Knees and Tongues

"Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:9-11)

This passage is one of the earliest known Christian "creeds." A creed is a statement of belief that defines what it means to be part of a group. True or false: Jesus Christ is Lord, meaning that He is Yahweh, the maker of heaven and earth, the Holy One of God. Christians says, "True." Unbelievers say, "False" or "Yes, but . . ."

One day, every soul who has every existed will finally answer "True" to this question. Some will bow in gratitude; others in shame. Some will be in heaven, others on earth, others in hell -- all will finally and fully admit that the once-despised and mocked and spit-on Jesus is, after all, Lord of all.

For anyone who waits until that day to bow before Jesus, it will be too late to be saved by trusting in Him for the forgiveness of their sins. They will suffer in hell forever knowing they were wrong to reject Him. What a day of triumph and despair that will be.

Think: How many people do you know right now who could not honestly bow and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord?

Pray: Ask God to help your unbelieving friends and family members to come to know Him as Father through faith in Jesus.

Do: Make a plan to confess to an unbelieving friend or family member your faith that Jesus Christ is Lord.

We Humble God Lifts

"Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name." (Philippians 2:9)

In coming to earth, in becoming a human servant, Jesus made Himself nothing. He humbled Himself to the lowest point. He made the choice to treat others as better than Himself (they weren't), to serve, to die.

Then God the Father made a choice to un-humble Jesus. He lifted Him up to the highest place and gave Him the most powerful, most respected, and most feared name in past and future history. He took Jesus' shameful and obedient and loving and selfless death on the cross and turned Jesus into the greatest champion of all time.

God calls us to follow that same pattern. We humble ourselves and wait. We serve. We treat others better. We kill off every "me first" impulse. Then, at just the right moment, He will lift us up. See 1 Peter 5:5-6 to see for yourself.

Think: How are you doing at thinking like Jesus and humbling yourself under God's mighty hand? Is your ego losing any weight?

Pray: Ask God to help you both to know how and to want to humble yourself in service to others.

Do: Memorize 1 Peter 5:5-6 and roll it around in your head every day this week. (You can skip the first sentence unless you're a "young man.")

Obeying Death

"And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!" (Philippians 2:8)

Humility doesn't come any more shocking than this. First, the Creator of the universe refuses to demand His right to be treated as God. Instead, He humbles himself by becoming stuck in time, first as a baby human, fully human, a servant down to His own human DNA. He grew, obedient to time, waiting for the hours and days and years to pass like every other human must. Finally, this passage tells us God bowed so low as to obey even death.

Death -- the consequence for Adam's sin -- "for when you eat of it you will surely die." Now perfect and humble Jesus Himself obeys the consequence for sin to spare all of Adam's believing children. And not an easy death, either. Not a noble, kingly death. Not death "with his boots on" in the heat of battle or "passing in his sleep" to avoid the pain.

This was death at it's wickedest -- a death so cruel the Romans would not allow the worst Roman citizens to suffer through it. A death of shame. A death that invited mocking and spittle. How: "Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus."

Think: Why would God allow His only Son to suffer by obeying such an ugly death?

Pray: Thank God for Jesus' enormous humility to lower Himself to the point where He could pay the penalty for your sin.

Do: Look up the definition of humility in a dictionary and write it out word-for-word while thinking about this verse.

Movie Stars with Dish Rags

"Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness." (Philippians 2:5-7)

It's the President bussing tables at McDonald's for the summer. It's Queen of England working in the nursery by herself on Sunday mornings. It's Miley Cyrus cleaning the toilets at your school every afternoon.

Rich people. Powerful people. Popular people. They don't have to do those things. If they're kind of cool, we think, maybe they'll pitch in on some mundane task once in a while. But honestly, if any of those people did any of those things for real -- for more than a month or two -- we'd probably respect them less. Why do it if you don't have to?

Jesus didn't come to demand our respect for His power or riches or authority. He came to be a servant. A real "let me get that for you" servant even though He was God. I admire Him for that, but I don't really want to be like Him that way. Not really. Not in serving you. I need a heart transplant.

Think: Do you want to be like Jesus in serving others? Why is it so hard for us to want to be like Him in that way?

Pray: Ask God to help you to want to be a servant in the same way that Jesus was.

Do: Make a short list of some ways you could serve your friends this week.

Legalism is Easier

"Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus." (Philippians 2:5)

A lot of people hate legalism for the wrong reasons. They get mad when someone suggests we should say "no" to some things when the Bible has not really made those thing off-limits. They don't like hearing "no." Paul hated legalism, too, but mostly for a bigger, harder reason.

I grew up around legalism, and it was a good fit for me. I was a pleaser and a child. It wasn't too hard to keep the list of do's and don'ts. So mostly I felt pretty good about my relationship with God. If the unofficial ranking of "good Christian kids" was actually published, I would have been near the top. The problem with legalism is that it's too easy.

In today's verse (and the 6 after it), Paul smashes legalistic satisfaction by showing what God really wants from us. He doesn't want us to grow holy from the outside in -- by doing/avoiding all the listed items and waiting for our hearts to catch up. He wants to transform us from the inside by dismantling the machine and rebuilding it without the selfish button. He wants us to think like Jesus.

That's way too hard. Let's just not smoke or swear and then feel really good about ourselves.

Think: What's harder, to follow a list of rules or to learn to think as selflessly as Jesus did? Is it even possible to have the same kind of humility He had?

Pray: Ask God to change your heart to begin to think and feel like Jesus did.

Do: A good way to begin thinking like Jesus would be to memorize Philippians 2:5-11.

Mission Not Mine

"Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others." (Philippians 2:4)

Yesterday, we talked about Paul's upside-down command to think of others as better than ourselves. In other words, part of our mission in life is to make other people successful. This verse takes that a step further -- "look to" others' interests.

We're not necessarily talking about appreciating each others' hobbies or music playlists here. We're talking about getting practical about what it means to love another person as we love ourselves.

It's a two-step process. One: Take the time to really think through, ask about, and understand what another person wants and needs out of life right now. Two: Make a plan to do something about it. (Read the "Do" line below to get even more specific.)

Think: Who in your life has made it their business to help you with your "interests," to be available to help you accomplish what you need to do with your time and energy? Why do they do that for you?

Pray: Ask God to help you want to help other people with their interests, as well as taking care of your own stuff.

Do: Make three lists. On the first, list you "interests;" not what you like, but what you need to do and figure out and accomplish this week. Now pick two other people (parents, friends, etc.), and make the same list for them. Finally, take those lists to them and ask what else is on their plates.

Let the Dream Die

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves." (Philippians 2:3)

Selfish ambition and vain conceit are such ugly words. We don't usually use them to describe our own motives. Instead, we say, "Don't give up on your dreams" (for success and nice things and being respected and winning it al). We say, "You've got to make some sacrifices if you want to get ahead" (and get the glory and get the girl/guy and get famous).

In fact, you've probably heard motivational speakers break it down like this: "Think about what you want for yourself out of life. Make a goal. And figure out the steps to get what you want. Along the way, don't let anyone treat you like you're less valuable."

James called that "worldly wisdom," and it works sometimes to make people rich or famous. But Paul says, "Identify what other people want out of life, and help them get it. Along the way, don't let anyone treat you like you're better than they are. If your dreams don't include making others successful, let the dreams die."

Think: Why does this verse -- treat others better than yourself -- sound so backwards to us? How often do we really do this?

Pray: Ask God to help you want to treat others better than yourself.

Do: Write a one-line motivational poster that would fit the philosophy of this verse.

Relationship Fallout

"If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose." (Philippians 2:1-2)

I'm told that in the original language, Paul's sentence in these two verses assumes that the answer to all these "if" statements is a "yes." He is saying, "Look at everything you have in Christ: encouragement from being "with" Him; comfort from being loved by Him; a sense of togetherness with the Holy Spirit; and a new tenderness and compassion!"

Here's my question: Would those things describe your life in Christ? Have you experienced that encouragement, comfort, fellowship, and compassion? If not, we should ask ourselves, "What's the deal?" Are we really walking with Christ -- or are we just satisfied with being in the Christian club without being radically engulfed in relationship with Him?

Paul's friends were genuine Jesus-followers, and they experienced all of these things as a result. They still had sad times. They still had frustrating days. They still suffered. But being in Christ brought meaning in all of the ways Paul described.

Think: How has being in relationship with Jesus changed your life? Has it brought you comfort, compassion, encouragement, and fellowship with God?

Pray: Ask God to help you walk in close relationship with Him? Thank Him that He loves you and provides for you in every possible way.

Do: Read the rest of today's passage to discover what Paul wanted his encouraged, comforted, compassionate friends to do to make him fully joyful.

No Fear

". . . without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him . . ." (Philippians 1:28)

Back in the 90s, a brand of clothing called No Fear got hugely popular. Part of the attraction was the idea behind the logo — live to the extreme in sports, in life. Don't be afraid of pain or breaking out of tradition. Don't conform. Live on the edge.

In his letter to the Philippians, Paul described how Christians can live without fear. We saw the first two steps in yesterday's devo: live like the gospel matters (with integrity) and stand shoulder-to-shoulder with other believers (as one person). That makes sense.

The next step is harder: expect to suffer. People who see pain as normal are not afraid of it. Athletes push through the pain of working out knowing they'll have pain from it the next day, too. Boxers expect to take punches. Christians should expect to suffer for Jesus, Paul wrote.

Think: Does expecting pain make pain less scary? Do you know of any Christians who have suffered real persecution for their faith?

Pray: Ask God to help you live without fear in the way Paul describes here.

Do: Go out and buy a "No Fear" energy drink. Wait, I'm not supposed to say that unless they send us money. Drink something else. But don't be scared.

Together and Fearless

"Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then . . . I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you." (Philippians 1:27-28)

Paul is writing to some great friends of his, Christians in the town of Philippi. They were going through some rough times, being treated badly because they believed in Jesus. Paul could relate; he was writing this letter from prison for the same reason.

The letter is full of encouragement for believers, but Paul also urged his friends to do better. It matters how we live, he said, because people are watching. They're looking to see if faith in Jesus makes any difference in the lives of those who trust Him.

What's your salvation worth to you? he asks. Show its worth in how you live. And don't make it a "personal thing." Stand for what you believe together. Firmly. Fight for it together, so close that you seem like parts of the same person. Be fearless.

Think: Does standing and fighting and sharing real life with other Christians make us stronger? How can it makes us fearless?

Pray: Ask God to help unbelievers see Jesus in you and the people in your church.

Do: Write down a few of the ways you do/could "stand firm in one spirit" and "contend as one man" with other believers in your life.

God Goes First

'If you will not,' said Naaman, 'please let me, your servant, be given as much earth as a pair of mules can carry, for your servant will never again make burnt offerings and sacrifices to any other god but the LORD.' " (2 Kings 5:17)

Notice two amazing things from today's passage. First, Naaman asks for some Israeli dirt on which to set up an altar back home for making sacrifices to the God of Israel. He vows never again to sacrifice to another god. Seems like a rational response to his miracle healing, but it had the potential to be risky for Naaman. His boss the king worshipped another god.

The bigger deal to me, though, is what this story says about God. He did not require Naaman to vow to worship Him before He healed him. His only demand was that Naaman trust Him enough to follow the instructions to wash in the humble river. God healed Naaman with few strings attached -- and Naaman's worship followed.

God did the same for us, but in a much bigger way. In Romans 5, we're told that "While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." God gave the gift first -- the gift of His only Son's life for our sin. Our conversion and worship of Him followed once we understood His sacrifice and power and love.

Think: Is it risky for God to give away such amazing gifts without asking us to sign on the dotted line first?

Pray: Thank God for sacrificing Jesus before you knew to want to be saved. Ask Him to help you to worship Him in the best possible way.

Do: Read the last 10 verses of chapter 5 to catch the surprising ending to the story of Naaman and Elisha.

Cash Healing?

"Then Naaman and all his attendants went back to the man of God. He stood before him and said, 'Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel. Please accept now a gift from your servant.' The prophet answered, 'As surely as the LORD lives, whom I serve, I will not accept a thing.' And even though Naaman urged him, he refused." (2 Kings 5:15-16)

Naaman was healed. It was a simple gift from God received by a simple act of faith -- washing in the river as he'd been told to by a servant of the prophet. It was also a powerful miracle -- one that no god of Naaman's people had been able to give to him.

Now Naaman wanted to pay for it. Obviously, being healed was a valuable thing. What was it worth? We know from verse five that Naaman had brought with him about 750 pounds of silver and 150 pounds of gold and 10 sets of valuable clothing. In today's market, that would be worth at least $150,000. Elisha wouldn't touch a dime of it.

Why? Because it was God's gift to Naaman, not something Naaman could earn or buy or conquer. All he could do was to accept it. Too many of us, after receiving God's free gift of salvation in Jesus, start looking for ways to "pay God back." We cannot. All we can do is love and worship Him for it.

Think: Do you feel like you have to do something to earn a little piece of your salvation from sin and death? Why is it so hard for us to see that the bill is already paid in full?

Pray: Thank God for healing Naaman for free and for welcoming you into His family through Jesus for free, too.

Do: Make a quick list of all the really valuable things in your life that you did not earn or pay for.

No Quest Required

"Naaman's servants went to him and said, 'My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, 'Wash and be cleansed'!' So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy." (2 Kings 5:13-14)

Naaman's servants were smart. Not only did they see their master's pride problem from a different perspective, they were able to help him see that perspective, as well. I hope those guys got a raise after this.

With sincere respect ("My father," they said), they showed Naaman that he would have gladly climbed the highest mountain or crossed the widest ocean or gone in hunt of the meanest dragon to escape the death sentence that came with that spot of leprosy. So why not try an easy thing?

It takes real wisdom to approach someone in authority over you to help him see that pride is getting in the way of what's best for him. And it takes real humility to listen to the wisdom of those who are NOT in authority over you. When Naaman finally humbled himself and quit demanding to be healed his own way, God healed him for free.

Think: Are you available to those in authority over you as a source of wisdom? Are you humble enough to receive wisdom from your peers and others?

Pray: Ask God to help you to grow both humble and wise.

Do: Pack your stubborn pride in a box and mail it to Baton Rouge (unless you live there, then pick somewhere else).

Boring Miracles?

"Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, 'Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed.' But Naaman went away angry and said, 'I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy. . . .' So he turned and went off in a rage." (2 Kings 5:10-12)

Naaman was desperate to be cured of his leprosy, but he still had expectations for how this miracle cure should come about. Yesterday, we saw that he expected it to come from the royal palace of Israel. It didn't. Next, he expected the cure to come with the prophet waving his hand over the death spot in a kind of religious ceremony. Nope.

Instead, Elisha sends a simple servant with a simple message to do a simple task: wash in that filthy river seven times.

Confession: I've also gotten angry when God answered my desperate prayers in the "wrong way." I wrote the script for the miraculous answer I really wanted instead of the good gift He gave me. That's big and stupid pride, pride that wants to control God instead of trusting Him with my whole heart.

Think: Can you understand Naaman's rage at being told by a servant to go and wash himself in a muddy river with no pomp or circumstance or magic words?

Pray: Ask God to make you grateful for His gifts, including that ones that come wrapped in plain, brown paper.

Do: Imagine what it would feel like to go and bathe yourself in a dirty river seven times in a row.

Hard Times

"The letter that he took to the king of Israel read: 'With this letter I am sending my servant Naaman to you so that you may cure him of his leprosy.' As soon as the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his robes and said, 'Am I God? Can I kill and bring back to life? Why does this fellow send someone to me to be cured of his leprosy?' " (2 Kings 5:6-7)

Naaman, the hero dying from leprosy, is sent by the king of Aram to Israel in search of a cure. Naaman was desperate. Why else would he embark on this journey on the word of one young slave girl? It's the only hope he has left of beating this ugly disease.

Notice two things: First, many people will not come to God until they are out of other options. How loving and generous of the Father to use our desperate circumstances to drive us into His care -- and then to care for us as only He can.

Second: Naaman assumes that if there is someone in Israel with the power over leprosy, he'd be living at the palace. He'd be a rich and powerful person. But the rich and powerful king of Israel doesn't have what Namaan needs. The dying hero was looking for the right answer in the wrong place.

Think: Have you ever turned to God with a big problem only after trying all of your other options first? Do you believe God ever uses our desperate moments to get our attention and give us great gifts?

Pray: Thank God that He uses our hard time to help us learn to trust Him more.

Do: Think about asking a wise older Christian how God has used hard times in her life to help her trust Him more.

Hope: This Way

"Now bands from Aram had gone out and had taken captive a young girl from Israel, and she served Naaman's wife. She said to her mistress, 'If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.' " (2 Kings 5:2-3)

We don't hear much from this "young girl" after this paragraph, but in a lot of ways she's the real hero of Naaman's story. In contrast to Naaman's life, hers sucked.

He was a military hero, a self-made man, a genuine success story. Her nation had been conquered. Her family may very well have been killed by the raiding party mentioned here. She had been made a slave, hauled off to Aram to serve Naaman's wife with very little hope of ever going back home.

Instead of speaking up about a prophet in Samaria who could heal Naaman, she could have kept that news to herself. She could have prayed for his death. Instead, she selflessly made a choice to point her dying "enemy" to the source of hope and life -- the prophet of the God of her people.

Think: Do you need to let go of any resentment or anger to make yourself more available to point hurting people to our God of hope through Jesus?

Pray: Ask God to use your whole life as a giant arrow pointing to Jesus.

Do: Make yourself a giant arrow costume to wear to school this week. (Okay, don't do that. That's just silly.)

The Dying Hero

"Now Naaman was commander of the army of the king of Aram. He was a great man in the sight of his master and highly regarded, because through him the LORD had given victory to Aram. He was a valiant soldier, but he had leprosy." (2 Kings 5:1)

For the next week or so, we'll be following the story of a military leader called Naaman. We're dropping in on the story of Israel at a time when God's people had been conquered by their enemies once again. They had not remained faithful to God, and Naaman was part of the military that had defeated Israel.

Naaman was a success story. In his day, the only way you could hope to make a name for yourself (unless you were royalty) was to rise up the ranks of the military. He had done that. He reported to the king of Aram. And even though he fought against Israel, God had used Naaman to bring victory to Aram. A successful leader, highly respected, at the top of his game.

One problem: He was dying. He had leprosy, a disease still in the world today though much less common. There was no cure. Your skin would start turning grey/white and then begin to flake off until it ate away at your whole body. All the success in the world -- even being used by God -- didn't keep him from getting this ugly disease.

Think: What's the point of working hard to be successful if it can all be taken away in a moment . . . when you're just going to die anyway?

Pray: Ask God to give you insight into your own life this week through the story of Naaman.

Do: Make a quick list of some successful people you know about who have died or gotten seriously ill even though they were rich and/or famous.

Pure Religion

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." (James 1:27)

The new Testament uses this word translated "religion" only 4 times. It's not surprising. The apostles were teaching a radical move away from the rigid structure of the law and into a greater understanding of God's grace and how we can love and trust Him more deeply and with greater freedom.

That said, there's nothing wrong with practicing our faith in an organized and systematic way. Religion isn't a bad thing if that religion is built on God's Word and our understanding of His grace. We do not save ourselves by being more "religious."

That said, too, any system of following God that is based on His Word will include two major lifestyle choices -- taking care of women and children who need family and money and not letting the world's values water down our obedience to God.

Think: How are you "doing" God's Word when it comes to helping the needy and shaking loose of the world's values?

Pray: Ask God to help you grow in your helpfulness to needy people and in how you avoid letting the world's values set the course for your life.

Do: Ask your youth leader what your church does to help "widows and orphans in their distress"?

Whoa Tongue

"If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless." (James 1:26)

We're fond of saying Christianity is not religion; it's a relationship with God through Jesus. And that makes sense. We usually think of religion as man trying to reach God. Christianity is God taking the initiative to redeem humans, adopting us as his children.

But James is writing to a religious people. He doesn't want them to be content in mindlessly following all the rules and reg's of their practice. He wants them (and us) to ask if their worship is changing them. And the number one measuring stick for change in humans is the words that come out of our mouths.

Don't lie to yourselves, he says. If your religion isn't giving you control over your words -- if you still spew verbal unkindness, immorality, deception, and hostility -- then your religion isn't working.

Think: Does your "faith practice" work? Are you finding yourself changed in the way you talk, in the words you choose?

Pray: Ask God to help you see how your genuine relationship with Him is genuinely changing you to be more like Jesus.

Do: Listen to how the people in your life talk this week? Notice anyone whose religious faith is or is not making a difference in their tongue control?

Freedom Rules

But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does. (James 1:25)

Today's passage isn't meant to be a fortune cookie. It's not a fairy dust promise that if you do everything you find in God's Word to the best of your ability, He'll make all of your dreams come true. God isn't a genie you access by polishing a magic lamp called "the Bible."

If you've got an iPod, it came with a book of instructions (or at least a link to an online "help" page). We would not be surprised if that book had this line: "Follow these instructions written by the maker of iPods, and you will be amazed by how cool this thing is and how well it works for a long, long time."

The Bible is a book of power because it contains direction from the designer of all of life. Living according to God's Word results in blessing because you would then be living the way the inventor of life intended. We should see that as perfectly logical, not just a vague spiritual promise. It makes perfect sense to do what God's Word says.

Think: Would you resent the makers of your mp3 player if they warned you not to submerge it in water? Do you ever resent God for warning you not to violate His design for your life?

Pray: Ask God to help you to be grateful for His instructions about your life because following them results in blessing for you.

Do: In the style of an instruction book or user's manual, write 2-3 of God's commands about how He intends for us to live.

Face Work

"Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like." (James 1:23-24)

Have you ever noticed that most guys look at themselves in mirrors differently than do girls? Girls get a look on their faces when they look into a mirror like they've got a job to do -- like an artist touching up a painting (or a construction worker cleaning up a job site, depending on the girl's view of herself). The mirror is a work surface that reports back to them what needs fixing or what's still in good shape.

We guys are different animals. In fact, we're a little like animals. We tend to glance at ourselves in the mirror with no more interest than we notice someone across a crowded room -- or we stand there making faces at ourselves for 15 minutes. Mostly, we use the mirror to convince ourselves that we still look good or to obsess about an irreparable zit. We don't really expect to come away looking any better than when we got there.

James built a mirror metaphor. He said someone who hears God's Word but doesn't make any changes to his life is like a person (usually a guy) who is not interested enough in his reflection to remember it five minutes later. We should approach God's Word to see what needs fixing in our lives, not just to convince ourselves we're still okay.

Think: How does your use of the Bible compare with your use of mirrors?

Pray: Ask God to help you come to His Word with a willingness to go to work on whatever it shows you that needs changing.

Do: Watch some people look at themselves in mirrors this week.

What Nike Said

"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." (James 1:22)

I've got into this habit, lately, of downloading task-list software from the Internet. It's an excellent way to avoid actual work. It feels productive; I'm cataloging all the important things I have to do. I'm building a system. I'm making a fresh start.

But there's a problem. After going through the little ritual of typing in a "to do" and categorizing it and putting it in context, I get this little buzz of satisfaction. "There it is! I know exactly what I must do. It is captured!." I feel a little proud of myself for being so organized as to have this sophisticated list-making knowledge.

And then I don't do it. Why? Because I already got the completion buzz from just adding it to the list. It feels "done" even though I didn't do anything. James noticed we have the exact same problem with the Bible. We feel great because we take time to listen to God's Word -- so great that we sometimes don't worry so much about actually doing it.

Think: Ever feel so satisfied with yourself for having devotions or going to church that you thought that somehow made up for not actually doing what God's tells us to? Yeah, me too.

Pray: Ask God to help to be both a listener to and a do-er of His Word.

Do: Find a way to "do" something today you've heard in the Word recently.

No Outlet

"Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you." (James 1:21)

Have you ever spent any time in a maze -- either on paper with a pen or pencil or inside some kind of life-size contraption? The implied goal of being in a maze is to get out, to get through it, to get to the other side. You can't escape if you keep getting stuck in dead ends.

James makes an assumption in these verses. He assumes that our goal in life is to live "the righteous life that God desires." If that's not our ultimate goal for life on this side of heaven, then his book isn't going to make much sense to us.

He told us yesterday that human anger is a dead end; it does not lead to choices that please God. Today, James drops some more knowledge on all of us maze-dwellers: "Other dead ends: moral filth and evil. The way home? It's in the Word. The Word's in you. Don't resist the Word (unless you like dead ends)."

Think: Have you discovered some dead ends in life? What are worthless choices or attitudes you're learning to avoid because they don't get you where you want to go?

Pray: Ask God to give you a radar for worthless paths so you can keep heading in a worthwhile direction.

Do: Off the top of your head, write a quick definition for moral filth. Then look the two words up in a dictionary.

Speed Control

"My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires." (James 1:19-20)

I love that the Bible never says, "Don't feel angry!" God understands that's not possible. Instead, He gives us some of the most practical and profound teaching on what to do with anger in all of recorded human history.

First, rush into hearing. Listen long enough to clearly understand all the facts and all the motives, as best you can. Then listen again. Second, shut up. The first words out of our mouths in an angry situation are often the worst ones. When you're angry, doubt your mouth.

Finally, own this: You're not going to make any real progress toward your real goals while the anger meter is in the red. Wait for it to cool off before taking action or making big decisions. Don't let your anger run your life.

Think: What are some ways you can slow your anger down -- and keep it from sending you spiraling in an unhealthy direction.

Pray: Ask God for speed control over your listening (faster), talking (slower), and getting mad (slower).

Do: Ask a mature Christian or two how they avoid allowing anger to control their lives.

The Blogger's Prayer

"May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer." (Psalm 19:14)

[Cue movie announcer's voice:] If you only attach one Bible verse to your computer monitor this year, attach this one.[/announcer]

To my knowledge, King David of Israel never Googled anything. He didn't have a Facebook account or a blog. He didn't write comments on someone's Myspace page. But under the inspiration of God, he wrote Psalm 19:14 for all those of us who do those things today. Seriously, this could be called the blogger's prayer.

The Web practically begs you and me to convert every random thought in our heads into online words. That's dangerous, and it should scare us way more than it does. Not just because we might say something to make ourselves look foolish -- but because we might write something unkind or deceptive or immoral and make our God look foolish.

Maybe even worse, the Web offers an avalanche of ideas and images for our hearts to "meditate" on. And even if we don't consciously think about them all, our "hearts" and minds are always processing those messages. We must develop the ability to delete the worthless thoughts and keep the valuable ones.

David sees that the only hope to pleasing God with our words and thoughts comes from our Rock and Redeemer.

Think: Do you have a different standard for what you will say and think about online than in the rest of your life? Is it more or less pleasing to God?

Pray: Write down this verse with your hand and pray it every day this week and/or month and/or year when you sit down at your computer of choice.

Do: Notice someone who reflects God's character online this week and thank him or her for that.

Hidden and Willful

"Who can discern his errors? Forgive my hidden faults. Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression. " (Psalm 19:12-13)

If you've been following along in Psalm 19 this week, you'll notice another shift in verse 12. In the first few verses, David looked up. He found himself amazed by a God who could create the heavens, especially the enormous and powerful fireball called the sun. Then he looked down into the pages of God's Word and was overwhelmed that the creator of the heavens would talk to us in words on paper.

Now David looks into how own heart. Compared to the sun, he sees his smallness. Compared to the direction God describes for humans in His Book, David sees how sinful he is. He realizes immediately he often does not live according to the law. He is not operating according to the design. He naturally sins without thinking of it sometimes.

At other times, he intentionally rebels against God's commands, sabotaging his own life to get his own way. For the fist time in this chapter, he asks God for something: "Forgive the sins I do without realizing I'm doing them -- and keep me from doing the ones I know are wrong. Please help me not to be controlled by my sinful desires."

Think: Do you ever feel overwhelmed by the sense that you are way off the path of living according to God's design for your life? Do you ever run into a brick wall of conviction over your sinful choices?

Pray: Pray this passage to God. Ask Him to convict you of sin and to give you the courage (and power in His Spirit) to obey Him.

Do: Ask someone you trust to tell you if they think you have any "hidden sins" that you aren't aware of most of the time. (Be brave and try not to get defensive.)

How to Drive

"The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb. By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward." (Proverbs 19:9-11)

Imagine if you lived 1,000 years ago and you woke up one morning to discover that everyone in your village had a car parked in front of their house. Cool, yes? Except nobody has ever seen a car before. Nobody knows what it's for and why it exists or where it came from. Some people start using their cars for beds or dining rooms or less pleasant things. Others begin to worship the cars as a kind of god.

What would it be worth to discover, hidden under one of the floor mats, an owner's and driving manual written in your own language? If you studied it, you'd suddenly understand the point of "car." You'd get that it was transportation, that it was meant to be fast, that it has an in-dash stereo. You'd realize what the key was for -- and you'd learn some things not to do if you wanted it to work properly (e.g., put sand in the gas tank, drive at night without headlights, etc.).

Having the car's maker explain in writing how the car works best would mean the difference between having a worthless hunk of metal -- and having a ticket to drive really fast. Paying attention to the maker's warnings and direction would mean the difference between life and death. (Okay, you get the metaphor -- God's directions to us about how to live are worth everything. Don't worry about where you'd find gas or the lack of roads. It's just an analogy. Come on.)

Think: What are the chances of coming to the right conclusions about how our lives are meant to be lived if you eliminate God's instructions in His Word?

Pray: Ask God to help you value His Word for what it's worth.

Do: Write down three things the Bible warns you to avoid on the road of the life. Then briefly describe (in a sentence) the reward of obeying God's commands.

Light and Heat

"The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes. The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever." (Psalm 19:7-9)

Wait a minute? Wasn't David just describing the heavens? Wasn't he just writing beautiful poetry about the sun? Did someone change the channel on the psalm? Now it's all about the law and statutes and precepts and commands.

Nope, same story. David is expecting us to make the connection between God's glory in creation and His glory in Scripture. If you're impressed with the sun -- and who is not? -- then you should be astounded by the Law. David is talking about the Scriptures he knows, which would have included the first five books of our Bible. Specifically, he's describing God's instructions to His people Israel.

These revelations of God's heart tell us about God just as His creation does. They revive our souls, teach us wisdom, and bring us great joy. Why? For one, they show us how the Creator of life intends for life to be lived. And living by the design gives our lives great meaning. Just as the sun helps us see what is hidden in the dark, God's commands light up our dark roads, showing us what to avoid and how to stay on the path.

Think: What other connections can you find between the beauty of God's creation and the beauty of His Word?

Pray: Thank God for showing you His heart on the pages of your Bible. Ask Him to give you the courage to follow His commands for your good.

Do: Off the top of your head, write down three commands from the Bible that light up your path by telling you what to avoid and which way to go.

Fireball

"In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun, which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion, like a champion rejoicing to run his course. It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is hidden from its heat." (Psalm 19:4-6)

I've heard some guys mock verses like this. They say David's description of the way the sun works proves that God's Word is flawed. They say it shows that David thought the sun revolves around the earth. The guys who do that don't tend to be poets.

Yes, we all know its the earth that does the rotating and revolving around the sun, not the other way around. God knows it, too. Here, He inspires David the poet to describe in rich metaphor what is happening on the big screen called "the sky." David doesn't really believe the sun lives in a tent, either. He uses the language of poetry to capture the beauty of creation.

In fact, in clearly describing the sun as a beautiful, powerful created thing instead of an actual personality, David is standing against those in his day who worshipped the sun as a god. Even in poetry, he is standing for what is rational, the understanding that we must worship the God who created that powerful, relentless ball of fire that dominates our days with its light and heat. Don't worship the thing, as awesome as it is. Worship the God who made it.

Think: Are you ever tempted to dismiss God's Word when it talks about nature and other areas of science? Why or why not?

Pray: Ask God to help each new discovery about the natural world to make you more impressed with His supernatural power.

Do: Write your own poem describing how you see the sun or stars or moon.

UNMUTE

"There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world." (Psalm 19:3-4)

One of my favorite buttons on the remote control is MUTE. You're watching something intense; the emotion is running high; then they cut to a commercial and instantly double the volume. Ack! Hit the MUTE; shut that guy up.

Our brains come with MUTE buttons, too. Psychologists call it "selective hearing." We're able to tune out things we don't want to hear, noises that distract from what we're interested in -- static on a radio station, other people's conversations in a crowded coffee shop, even the voice of someone talking directly to us when we're not ready to listen (e.g., your mom calling you to dinner when you were little or a friend who never quite stops talking to you).

Way too many of us learn to MUTE the voice described in these verses. It isn't God's voice. It's the voice of "the heavens" (sky, stars, moon, and especially sun). It's the voice that announces to the earth day and night, "Look at us, and think about God's power and wisdom! He made all of this! Pay attention! Make the connection between our beauty and His glory! Don't miss this!"

Don't MUTE the heavens.

Think: Have you learned how to MUTE God's creation? What can you do to start listening again?

Pray: Ask God to help you learn to block out worthless noise and to UNMUTE the important voices.

Do: Grab a blanket (and maybe a friend) and find a spot outside to lay down and listen to the heavens for a while.