tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37092367749776987762024-02-20T20:47:43.168-06:00The Occasional DevotionalYour word, O Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens. - <i>Psalm 119:89</i>Bill Hensleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06590194120523861924noreply@blogger.comBlogger366125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3709236774977698776.post-34612253561564447032012-09-29T16:00:00.000-05:002012-09-29T16:00:02.800-05:00Fearing God<i>The Israelites said to Moses, “We will die! We are lost, we are all lost! Anyone who even comes near the tabernacle of the Lord will die. Are we all going to die?”</i> (Num 17:12-13) <br /> <br />The Israelites who had grumbled against the Lord have now seen his power repeatedly displayed, and finally they fear him. This is an important step in their spiritual development, but it is not yet the whole story. There is a progression that many follow in coming to know the Lord, and that the Israelites were following. Initially they were ignorant of God altogether. Then they came to understand him as one of many gods. Now at last they have understood that he is the one true, all-powerful God and they fear him. But there is one more step each of us must take – to know that he is our God and he loves us. Perfect love casts out fear. (1 Jn 4:18) God is fearfully strong. But because I know he is good and loving I know that he desires only what is best for me. Saved by his grace I can rest secure in his arms. Our High Priest Jesus has made atonement for us. “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence,” not fear. (Heb 4:16) <br /> <br />Lord, thank you that you have made a way for us to boldly come before you. Not by our righteousness but by your grace. Thank you that I need not fear your presence! Amen.Bill Hensleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06590194120523861924noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3709236774977698776.post-1844391387909411262012-09-22T16:00:00.000-05:002012-09-22T16:00:02.122-05:00Rescue the Weak<i>Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.</i> (Ps 82:4) <br /><br /> It’s easy to sit in the suburbs and think the urban poor just need to try harder and they can “make something of themselves”. But what if you don’t know how to try because no one ever showed you? Or what if you are convinced it is pointless to try because nothing you can do will change your situation? Some people can make it on their own, but most are too weak – weakened by their upbringing and the evil that surrounds them. They are preyed on by drug dealers, bullies and thieves, exploited by politicians and ignored by most of the rest of us. God commands us to rescue the weak and needy – to bring the light of hope through the gift of love, to lend a hand and to show the way. Truly they need Jesus, but Jesus will only come to them in the person of ordinary Christians like you and me who are willing to be obedient and get involved. God, forgive me for my selfishness and laziness. You have given us your commandments and your example. I want to do my part to rescue the weak and the fatherless and bind up the brokenhearted. Teach me to be “Jesus with skin on”. Use me to show your love and mercy to the world. Amen.Bill Hensleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06590194120523861924noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3709236774977698776.post-19966245006277770522012-09-15T16:00:00.000-05:002012-09-15T16:00:02.180-05:00Following an Unseen God<i>Your path led through the sea, your way through the mighty waters, though your footprints were not seen.</i> (Ps 77:19) <br /> <br />How do you follow an unseen God? Here’s a hint: when the waters part and a path opens up through the sea, God has gone before you to lead the way. Most of the time the circumstances of our lives are less dramatic but the principle is still the same. A door opens and the still, small voice of God nudges us forward. Some Christians I know are always looking for a sign from God. Sometimes they interpret seemingly inconsequential events as a sign. I don’t experience the presence of God in my life that way. God’s Word is filled with his wisdom and his commandments, and he has given us a mind to know them and apply them. No doubt my friends are sometimes reading too much into everyday events, but just as surely I believe I have often missed God’s leading. We have to leave some room for the miraculous in our lives. God’s will is not always “reasonable”. His Spirit will never contradict his Word, but his plan far exceeds our comprehension. Sometimes the next step will seem risky or strange. Lord, teach me to hear your voice. I don’t want to miss that open door which leads to the center of your will for me. Thank you, Lord, for your Word and your Spirit. Lead me on your path for my life. Amen.Bill Hensleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06590194120523861924noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3709236774977698776.post-56510073227928936972012-09-08T16:00:00.000-05:002012-09-08T16:00:01.392-05:00Promised Redemption<i>No man can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for him – the ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough. But God will redeem my life from the grave; he will surely take me to himself.</i> (Ps 49:7-8,15)<br /><br />Sin brought death into the world, and no man can do anything to change that. We have sinned and we will die. We do not have the power or the righteousness to defeat death on our own. But God! I love those two words. He is the answer to all our predicaments. I cannot defeat death. But God will redeem my life from the grave; he will surely take me to himself.<br /><br /> This much was known to the psalmist in ancient days. He looked ahead to a redemption he knew was coming but he could not see how or by whom. How blessed we are to be born into these latter days! We know the joy of a daily walk with Jesus, our Blessed Redeemer. He paid the debt I could not pay. The blood of Christ is sufficient for all our sins. Lord, thank you for the great joy of knowing you, of experiencing your presence every day. Thank you that I enjoy <i>now </i>the eternal life of which the psalmist could only dream. Even though my body will one day die, death will never separate me from you, my Lord and Savior. Amen.Bill Hensleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06590194120523861924noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3709236774977698776.post-9508329181279372152012-09-01T16:00:00.000-05:002012-09-01T16:00:04.155-05:00Serial Stupidity<br />
<i>Though you grind a fool in a mortar, grinding him like grain with a pestle, you will not remove the folly from him.</i> (Pro 27:22) <br /><br /> In the Bible, being a fool is a moral failing. A fool is one who rejects God’s wisdom and makes evil, self-destructive choices. But, as this verse reveals, the very core of folly is the failure – or refusal – to learn from one’s mistakes. The book of Proverbs teaches us that sin has consequences. When I care so little about myself or others that I will continue to sin regardless of the consequences then I am truly a fool. My first reaction is to say, why would anyone do that? But then I realize I myself do it, over and over again. When I choose the pleasure of the moment I am being the fool. For a moment’s satisfaction I would trade a lifetime of consequences. I am thinking about gluttony here but it is just as true for anger, selfishness, pride or any other sin. Lord, forgive me for my rampant foolishness. Teach me to walk in wisdom. Amen.Bill Hensleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06590194120523861924noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3709236774977698776.post-71773542460083268832012-08-25T16:00:00.000-05:002012-08-25T16:00:02.241-05:00Don't Be a Hittite<i>Then Rebekah said to Isaac, “I’m disgusted with these Hittite women. If Jacob takes a wife from among the women of this land, from Hittite women like these, my life will not be worth living.”</i> (Gen 27:46)<br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">I’ve always found this verse amusing. There’s more than a hint of cattiness to it. But there’s a serious side also. God’s will was for Abraham’s descendants not to intermarry with the pagan Canaanites. Yet Esau had married two local Hittite women. Gen 26:35 says “They were a source of grief to Isaac and Rebekah.” How, exactly? The Bible does not say. No doubt it was partly their pagan religion. But I think this verse hints at more than that.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">How do we treat our in-laws? Do we love them like our own flesh and blood? When Ruth went to live with her mother-in-law Naomi she said, “Your people will be my people, and your God my God.” (Ruth 1:16) The words of Rebekah suggest that this was not the attitude of Esau’s wives. How might they have grieved her and Isaac? Were they critical, disrespectful, rude or selfish? We don’t know. But we do know that God expects us to love our in-laws, to graciously accept them and to honor them by deferring to them. Lord, I don’t want to be a Hittite! Help me be like Ruth. Teach me to be loving and gracious to my whole family, whether by blood or marriage. Let your light shine in me and through me. Amen.</span>Bill Hensleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06590194120523861924noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3709236774977698776.post-56734761578462617842012-08-18T16:00:00.000-05:002012-08-18T16:00:01.857-05:00Give Him Your Heart<i>The lamp of the Lord searches the spirit of a man; it searches out his inmost being.</i> (Pro 20:27) <div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">When we say that we have “given our hearts to Christ” these are not idle words. He is going to move in and take ownership, and the first order of business is spring cleaning. Sanctification is not always a pleasant process. If we continue to walk with him, drinking in his Word and seeking his will, he is going to shine the light of his truth on the dark corners of our hearts. Lord, sanctify me by your truth! (Jn 17:17) I know I often resist you, but my heart of hearts truly desires to be conformed to your image. (Rom 8:29) Forgive me when I pull back. I have given my heart to you, and it is yours forever. Amen.</span></div>Bill Hensleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06590194120523861924noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3709236774977698776.post-45118195012316124992012-08-11T16:00:00.000-05:002012-08-11T16:00:03.479-05:00Great Wives Need Great Husbands<i>He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord.</i> (Pro 18:22) <br /> <br />What a blessing my wife has been to me! Thank you, Lord, for your favor. I cannot imagine what our lives would be like without each other. In this day when marriage is under attack and good marriages seem so rare, how blessed have I been to have such a wonderful wife! I think about how many people give up on marriage – men and women who are disappointed in the person they married. Especially, I am saddened by men who grow bored or disillusioned with their wives and leave them for what they think will be greener pastures. It seems to me a lot of men get the wife they deserve – one might even say the wife they have created by their mistreatment of her. If he is selfish she will be resentful. If he is lazy she will be a nag. If he is distant she will be cold. If he has a wandering eye she will be jealous. If he is not affectionate she will be emotionally needy. If he is irresponsible she will be insecure.<div>
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Lord, so much hurt and sorrow can be avoided if we are obedient to your commands! Forgive me for my failings as a husband. Thank you that I have a wife who is so much better than I deserve. Thank you for teaching us how to love each other. I pray that the men in our society, especially the Christians, will step up to the challenge of being loving and faithful husbands as well as wise and loving fathers. Comfort and encourage those women whose husbands have not fulfilled their vows. I pray that the church will lead the way in restoration of marriage to your God-given design. Amen.</div>Bill Hensleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06590194120523861924noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3709236774977698776.post-27227341805218811962012-08-04T16:00:00.000-05:002012-08-04T16:00:02.866-05:00A Teachable Spirit<i>Stop listening to instruction, my son, and you will stray from the words of knowledge.</i> (Pro 19:27) <br /><br /> One of the most important attributes of a humble Christ follower is a teachable spirit. At one level, it should be obvious that when you stop listening you stop learning. But the danger is deeper than that. The real danger is letting pride overtake my heart. If I think I have nothing to learn from others, I will soon find that I am not listening to God, either. “Professing to be wise, they became fools” (Rom 1:22 NASB) is how Paul described such men. My knowledge is always incomplete and imperfect in this life. I must continue to study God’s Word and to learn. And I must continue to read and listen to the teaching of godly men, as an important check against my own errors of interpretation. Lord, I want to have a teachable spirit. Convict me when pride raises its ugly head. Sanctify me by your Word – both to know it and to obey it. Amen.Bill Hensleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06590194120523861924noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3709236774977698776.post-30901192176721374962012-07-28T16:00:00.000-05:002012-07-28T20:13:03.971-05:00Dishonest Scales<i>The Lord abhors dishonest scales, but accurate weights are his delight. </i>(Pro 11:1) <br />
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This is one of those verses that seem so foreign to us culturally. In Biblical times, every merchant would have a scale and a set of weights for measuring the goods exchanged. A dishonest merchant would keep two sets of weights – lighter ones for weighing his product and heavier ones for weighing your payment. This must have been a common scam because it is condemned many times in the Bible. In our day, everything comes prepackaged at the store and we pay whatever is rung up on the cash register. So in one sense this verse no longer seems to apply to us. But the sins of dishonesty and selfishness are still with us.<br />
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As I reflect on how this verse may yet apply to my life, I realize that I do indeed keep two sets of weights. With one I weigh what others do for me and with the other I weigh what I do for others. Like the dishonest merchant, I overvalue what I do to serve others and undervalue what others do to serve me. I am quick to be put out when others ask for my help and slow to show gratitude for the help I receive. Lord, forgive me for my selfishness, which I compound by my dishonesty and ingratitude. By your Incarnation and your death on the cross you gave us the supreme example of servanthood. Convict me when I fail to follow in your footsteps. Amen.Bill Hensleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06590194120523861924noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3709236774977698776.post-86211582501770470532012-07-21T16:00:00.000-05:002012-07-21T16:00:02.372-05:00Soldiers of Christ<i>Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.</i> (2 Tim 2:3) <br /> <br />Young people seek adventure and will endure hardship for the thrill of a great experience. But somehow as we get older we become more concerned with our ease and comfort. When Paul writes this admonition to Timothy, Paul is old and in prison, enduring hardship for the sake of Christ. Timothy is young and living an adventurous life as an itinerant evangelist and church planter. Paul reminds Timothy that we are soldiers of Christ. Soldiers endure great hardship, but always for the sake of others. When the thrill is gone, when the path ahead leads to danger, the soldier endures and presses forward, because he has given his life to a cause greater than himself. When I let myself become absorbed in the pursuit of ease and comfort, I am devoting myself to a shallow and selfish cause. Jesus poured himself out for us, and Paul followed faithfully his example. I must do the same.Bill Hensleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06590194120523861924noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3709236774977698776.post-66861347710823169242012-07-14T16:00:00.000-05:002012-07-14T16:00:08.555-05:00Detestable Things<i>Again and again I sent my servants the prophets, who said, “Do not do this detestable thing that I hate!” </i>(Jer 44:4) <br />
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Sometimes I imagine that God delivered his commandments with a sort of clinical detachment. “Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal. Let’s see, now where was I? Oh, yes! Do not bear false witness, do not covet.” Not at all! These commandments must have been delivered in a thunderous voice. God <i>hates </i>these things. They are an affront to his very nature. To him they are <i>detestable</i>, and so they should be to me as well. I must look long into his face, meditating on his nature and character, until all sin is detestable to me as well – until <i>my </i>sin is detestable to me. Lord, I want to be like you – to love what you love and hate what you hate. You are good and true and righteous. I love you for who you are. Train me in truth and righteousness, to be pleasing in your sight. Amen.Bill Hensleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06590194120523861924noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3709236774977698776.post-28084908394475386552011-11-20T18:00:00.004-06:002011-11-20T18:00:03.733-06:00Turning Our Backs to God<i>They turned their backs to me and not their faces.</i> (Jer 32:33a) <br />
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Ouch! How often am I guilty of this? I realized from this verse there are only two stances toward God. If I am not turning my face toward him I am turning my back to him. I want to think there is a middle ground. I want to think that sometimes, even though I am not turning my face to him, I’m still not exactly turning my back to him. But it is not so. Am I distracted? That's turning my back. Am I forgetful of him? That's turning my back. Do I ignore him? That's turning my back. Do I say I'm too tired? That's turning my back. God has commanded me to seek him, to pray without ceasing, to meditate on his Word day and night, and to walk humbly before him. I must forever be turning toward him continually. Lord, forgive my foolish excuses. I turn my face to you. I will fix my eyes on Jesus. Amen.Bill Hensleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06590194120523861924noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3709236774977698776.post-34738546379393364802011-11-13T18:00:00.038-06:002011-11-13T18:00:00.388-06:00Building for God<i>And though this temple is now imposing, all who pass by will be appalled and will scoff and say, “Why has the Lord done such a thing to this land and to this temple?</i> (1 Kings 9:8) <br />
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After the dedication of the temple, the Lord appears to Solomon to remind him of the blessings and curses of the covenant. If Solomon and the people of Israel will walk in God’s ways, God will dwell with them forever and the house of David will never fail to rule over Israel. But if they turn away from God and his commandments then Israel will be cut off from the land and the temple destroyed. Of course we know that they did indeed disobey, and the beautiful temple that was dedicated that day was utterly destroyed by the Babylonians four hundred years later.<br />
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</div><div>How often in human history have the greatest works of man fallen into decay and disrepair? In fact, don’t they always seem to fall? And not just the physical monuments, but all human institutions? How many schools, churches and governments have been build for God but later turned away from walking in his ways? The fallen nature of mankind affects everything we do. It would be easy to despair, but thanks be to God –<br />
that is not the end of the story! Jesus came to bring new life. He is the antidote to the poison of sin. He is the light of the world, John says. “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (Jn 1:5 ESV) And his promise to us is, “Behold, I am making all things new.” (Rev 21:5 ESV)</div><div><br />
</div><div>Lord, I want to learn obedience at your feet. I pray that my sin would not undermine what you are doing today in this world. Shine your light into my life. Create in me a clean heart. Use me to accomplish something for your eternal Kingdom. Amen.</div>Bill Hensleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06590194120523861924noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3709236774977698776.post-86794536789888833792011-10-16T18:00:00.000-05:002011-10-16T18:00:04.716-05:00The Truth Hurts<i>Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses. </i>(Pro 27:6) <br />
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I just hate it when a friend tells me something I need to hear. Boy, sometimes the truth hurts. It’s much more fun to get a compliment. But sometimes when you love someone the most loving thing you can do is to speak the hard truth. Speaking the truth in love is an art few of us have mastered but all of us must practice. When I’m on the wrong track I need you to love me enough to set me straight. The world is full of insincere flatterers who will tell me what I want to hear just so they can manipulate me to their advantage. A faithful friend will wound me now to save me from greater trouble in the future.Bill Hensleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06590194120523861924noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3709236774977698776.post-2123661922513006522011-10-09T18:00:00.000-05:002011-10-09T18:00:00.552-05:00Disputable Matters<i>Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters.</i> (Rom 14:1) <br />
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With this statement Paul begins a long discourse on the importance of not letting disagreements interfere with our Christian unity. What are these disputable matters? Paul gives two examples. Some Christians in his day were evidently vegetarians because they thought it was morally wrong to eat meat. Others believed that Christians must keep the Jewish holy days. Contemporary examples might be drinking and going to R-rated movies. It is easy to see how such things can lead to disunity. If I see you doing something I think is wrong wouldn’t I be offended? Wouldn’t I try to convince you to stop? Before you know it we are consumed by the things that divide us and we have completely forgotten about the things that unite us. Paul warns us against that. If I have an opportunity to reason with you on these disputable matters I will. But it is far more important that I exhort you to lean in to God, to seek him with all your heart, to immerse yourself in his Word and in prayer. As we draw closer to God we automatically draw closer to each other. And, just maybe, God will one day nudge me toward the truth on a disputable matter where I have been mistaken. Lord, help us always to build each other up – to point each other to you. Remind me to keep the main thing the main thing and not let minor things sow discord among us. Amen.Bill Hensleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06590194120523861924noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3709236774977698776.post-58921434911667888432011-10-02T18:00:00.000-05:002011-10-02T18:00:04.204-05:00He's Just That Kind of God<i>I, even I am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.</i> (Is 43:25) <br />
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God is under no obligation to forgive our sins. He does it because he wants to. It pleases him to do so because it is his nature to love. This thought gives me great comfort and assurance, but it also humbles me. There is nothing intrinsic in me to cause him to love me. He loves me for his sake, not mine. Lord, thank you that you do not just forgive those who earn it, or love those who deserve it. Then I would be lost for sure. You forgive the unworthy sinner who repents and love the unlovable. I praise you for your marvelous nature and character. Amen.Bill Hensleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06590194120523861924noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3709236774977698776.post-6341904357395416542011-09-25T18:00:00.000-05:002011-09-25T18:00:03.901-05:00Modeling Christ-Likeness<i>Follow my example as I follow the example of Christ.</i> (1 Cor 11:1) <br />
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I used to think it was arrogant of Paul to tell people to follow his example, as though he were perfect! But I realize now Paul was not claiming to be perfectly Christ-like. When he says “as” he is really saying “to the same degree.” Even so, I would never say what Paul said because I know my life is far from resembling the life of Christ. There are whole new levels of obedience to God beyond my personal experience – levels I’m sure Paul had walked in. And when I think about that, I realize the problem here is not Paul’s arrogance but my disobedience. If I presume to lead others, if I presume to teach, should I not be able to say, “Follow my example as I follow the example of Christ?” Lord, forgive me for my casual disobedience. There is so much at stake here. I hinder others from seeing you when I fail to follow your example. Teach me to be a faithful disciple like Paul. Amen.Bill Hensleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06590194120523861924noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3709236774977698776.post-30383971398872873522011-09-18T18:00:00.000-05:002011-09-18T18:00:03.201-05:00Scholar's Snare<i>The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know. But the man who loves God is known by God.</i> (1 Cor 8:2-3) <br />
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I sometimes hear Bible teachers who sound like they have it all figured out. They teach their interpretations as fact and it seems there is nothing in the Bible that puzzles them. Pride is a snare for these men. You can hear their pride in the way they speak of other interpretations and those who teach them. As a teacher and a discipler of others I want always to stay humble. I must remember that the Bible is infallible but none of its interpreters are – including me.<br />
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</div><div>There is another snare in this focus on learning. It is that learning about God may become a substitute for loving God. Too much focus on the life of mind may drive out the desires of the heart. My passion must always be for God, and not for any idea or doctrine. I want to know him better, love him more, and follow more closely in his footsteps. When we love God, what we need to know will be made clear to us – which may be a whole lot less than what we’d like to know. When we love God we will find ourselves loving others. This is the life to which we are called. Not a sterile academic perfection but the gospel lived out in sacrificial love. Lord, forgive me for those times when I have been more concerned with being right than with being good. Teach me humility and compassion. Amen.</div>Bill Hensleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06590194120523861924noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3709236774977698776.post-10082832570018436752011-09-11T18:00:00.000-05:002011-09-11T18:00:02.881-05:00True North<i>My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. </i>(1 Cor 4:4) <br />
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I do not decide what is right and wrong. God does. Just because I don’t feel guilty doesn’t mean I’m not guilty. There are many ways in which our conscience might be led astray or even silenced. Each of us has our own moral compass, but it is incumbent on us to align our compass with God’s. Our all-wise and all-knowing God, perfect in holiness and righteousness, is the only true standard of right and wrong.Bill Hensleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06590194120523861924noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3709236774977698776.post-60592082300471074522011-09-07T18:00:00.000-05:002011-09-07T18:00:00.114-05:00Our Neighbor's Gods<i>Do not associate with these nations that remain among you; do not invoke the names of their gods or swear by them. You must not swear to them or bow down to them. </i>(Josh 23:7) <br />
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It is interesting to me that God left many of the Canaanite inhabitants in place after the conquest of Canaan. He knew these people and their religions would be a snare to the Israelites. It is as though it were important that the Israelites be tested, even though God knew that they would fail. Why did they fail? The simple fact is that in 1400 BC there was something very appealing about the Canaanite religions. I suppose in that day people must have pitied you or laughed at you if you had only one god. The Israelites must have been jealous of the idols and the temples and the orgies.<br />
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</div><div>It seems hard to imagine the appeal of the old Canaanite gods, but today our neighbors worship new gods, and we are drawn to them as of old. They worship the entertainment gods, the politics gods and the money gods. They also have the sports gods, the science gods and the society gods. The appeal is strong, as is the desire not to seem different or foolish. Like the Israelites, we are being tested. “Choose this day whom you will serve! But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Josh 24:15)</div>Bill Hensleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06590194120523861924noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3709236774977698776.post-64601354201246639682011-09-04T18:00:00.002-05:002011-09-04T18:00:03.553-05:00Every Promise Fulfilled<i>Not one of all the Lord’s good promises to the house of Israel failed; every one was fulfilled. </i>(Josh 21:45) <br />
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One of the reasons God has given us the Bible, with its long history of God’s dealings with man, is to serve as a testimony to God’s character and nature. This verse comes at the end of a long passage describing the territory that was given to each tribe of Israel. With the conquest of Canaan under Joshua, God had fulfilled his centuries-old promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Similarly, centuries before Christ the prophets spoke of the Messiah who was to come. God is faithful and he is able to deliver all that he has promised. The Scriptures have come down to us through the millennia to speak similar promises to us today. God is faithful and true, though we are faithless. All his good promises will come to pass.<br />
<blockquote><i>If we are faithless,<br />
he will remain faithful,<br />
for he cannot disown himself.</i><br />
(2 Tim 2:13)</blockquote><div>Man may disappoint, but God will never fail. Our own flesh is weak, but he is strong. Thank you, Lord, for your wonderful promises to us. Amen.</div>Bill Hensleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06590194120523861924noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3709236774977698776.post-60509440332991054702011-08-31T18:00:00.001-05:002011-09-01T06:38:20.334-05:00Destroy the Devoted Thing<i>Go, consecrate the people. Tell them, “Consecrate yourselves in preparation for tomorrow; for this is what the Lord, the God of Israel says: That which is devoted is among you, O Israel. You cannot stand against your enemies until you remove it.”</i> (Josh 7:13) <br />
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After the conquest and destruction of Jericho, the Israelites confidently sent a small force to capture Ai. But the men of Ai routed the army of Israel. Joshua, grief stricken, went before the Lord to discover why. God told him that Israel had been defeated because they had sinned by keeping some of the treasure of Jericho. This was a violation of God’s command to devote it all to him, i.e., destroy it all. In this verse God tells Joshua that Israel must destroy the devoted thing they clung to before they would be victorious again. <br />
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I wonder how often I suffer defeat for the same reason? When I cling to the idols and so-called treasures that God has called me to surrender I sabotage my own walk with God. This is a most basic and profound issue. As long as I am violating God’s very first commandment (thou shalt have no other gods before me) how can I live victoriously in the strength and power of God? While I care more for my own pride or pleasure than I do God’s kingdom I will never be able to do my part in his great plan for his people. Lord, forgive me for clinging to my own false gods and worthless idols when you have commanded me to destroy them. I have surrendered myself to you as my Sovereign King and I will have no other gods. You alone are Lord. I am yours, now and forever. Amen.Bill Hensleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06590194120523861924noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3709236774977698776.post-40358387532647807052011-08-28T18:00:00.004-05:002011-08-28T18:00:03.049-05:00Love 'Em and Let 'Em Go<i>“The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you.”</i> (1 Sam 17:37) <br />
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When David first offered to go and fight Goliath, Saul turned him down. But David pressed his case, explaining how he had fought wild animals as a shepherd. No doubt Saul was impressed that a such a young man had killed lions and bears, but more impressive was his faith in God. Saul could see he was spiritually ready. <br />
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As adults, and especially as parents, we are naturally protective of the young and inexperienced. But there comes a time when we have to let our young people go fight the good fight. Over the past few years hundreds of thousands of parents have had to literally face that moment. Millions more have watched their children head off to college or a job in a different city. The battle ahead may “only” be a spiritual one, but the danger is real enough. Yet it would be a mistake to forever keep them safe behind our walls. There comes a time when we must say to them, “Go, and the Lord be with you.”Bill Hensleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06590194120523861924noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3709236774977698776.post-13623675601103244052011-07-31T18:00:00.016-05:002011-07-31T18:00:04.430-05:00You Go First, Daddy<i>The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan, while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground.</i> (Josh 3:17) <br />
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The crossing of the Jordan was an amazing miracle. It put everyone on notice, both Israelites and Canaanites, that God is sovereign and he was giving the land of Canaan to his people Israel. The ark went before them and stood in the middle while everyone crossed over. It symbolized God’s presence and his power. The people could take comfort as they crossed that they would be safe because, metaphorically, God went first to show them it was safe. It reminds me of those times as a child when our parents would also calm our fears by going first. If Daddy can do it I can do it. It also reminds me how Jesus was willing to show us the way. He endured every temptation and suffered every pain so that I can take comfort and courage from his example. I think of King David saying, “You hem me in – behind and before.” (Ps 139:5) Only God can be in two places at once. He goes before me to show me the way and comes behind me to watch my back. No one can snatch me out of his hand. (Jn 10:28). I am secure in his presence and encouraged by his example. Thank you, Lord, for showing us the way.Bill Hensleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06590194120523861924noreply@blogger.com0