Category: Daily Devotionals

Famished For The Truth Of Jesus

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FAMISHED FOR THE TRUTH OF JESUS

Jude, a bond-servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to those who are the called, beloved in God the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ.  Jude 1

Jude was the brother of James and Simeon, and all three were the half-brothers of Jesus.  They had more than this one thing in common; they did not believe that Jesus was the Messiah until they were all older.  Oh, how blood relatives can be blind to anointing. Proximity yields a normalcy that obscures the signs of kingdom greatness. In spite of their initial rejection, they all became bright lights after the resurrection.  Their passion for Jesus was stunning as they took the Gospel to far-reaching places and were martyred for their faith.

Jude wrote a letter to the church that was short but powerful.  He addressed them about the deterioration of doctrine.  He begged his readers to defend the faith, to contend for it vigorously at all costs, even unto death.  He was clear to convey that when you and I defend doctrine, we defend a Person. Jesus.  When we err from any one important tenet of the faith, we mar the face of a Person, not a document. Continue reading “Famished For The Truth Of Jesus” →

Am I Working Against God’s Purposes?

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There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.  Proverbs 14:12

            A twenty-four hour day is filled with dozens of decisions; some minor, some major.  For most us, minor decisions don’t present a problem.  At least we think we know the right thing to do.  Wouldn’t you agree?

            What if our own gut is leading us astray?  Scripture says it often will.  Our ‘take’ on things, though at the time it seems so right, lead us down the road to harmful spiritual consequences.

            I face ministry decisions daily that could easily be made by the logic of good marketing.  I may think I need to do whatever it takes to keep my name out there. God, though, may tell me to withdraw for a season. I may want to approach a certain church about hosting a women’s event. God may feel that their women are not ready for the message. He knows He needs to prepare the soil in ways I can’t see.  If I don’t take the time to pray about everything, I’ll expend the energy and scatter a few spiritual seeds with disappointing results. Continue reading “Am I Working Against God’s Purposes?” →

Staff and Signet

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He said, “What pledge shall I give you?” She replied, “Your signet and your cord and your staff that is in your hand.” So he gave them to her and went in to her, and she conceived by him. Then she arose and went away, and taking off her veil she put on the garments of her widowhood. Genesis 38:1-19

         Judah was a failure as father-in-law to Tamar. He left her without a husband and ensured her vulnerability in that culture. Tamar took matters into her own hands. She tricked Judah by playing the part of a prostitute. For the privilege of laying with her, she asked for two things; his signet and his staff.

         The narrative of the Bible reveals that not much has changed. Every human craves what the signet and staff represented. We often sell our soul to get it.

  • A Signet: A signet was a sign of authority, a raised seal that was used to sign important documents. If you worked for a wealthy person, he gave you his seal to do business on his behalf.

Not knowing that God has sealed me with His favor, not knowing that I am His signet ring (Haggai 2:23), I arm myself with earthbound credentials. I will not remember that I often like Moses. I can stutter, dress like a poor shepherd, but still experience spiritual success because the Spirit of God is speaking through my mouth. Continue reading “Staff and Signet” →

Which Name Do I Need?

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Yahweh, we have awaited you – for your name and your memorial with long of soul.  With my soul I have longed for you in the night, indeed, in my inmost spirit I look for your dawning.  Isaiah 26:8-9

         Ever been in trouble and waited for someone to show up to rescue you?  Maybe they did come and you couldn’t hold the tears in when you saw them.  The same burst.

     Just as often, the opposite occurs.  Someone promised to help but got sidetracked and left you stranded.  You fended for yourself and the hurt is still profound.  Your ability to fully trust them has eroded.

         Isaiah says that Israel is waiting for God’s name and His memorial.  That means that they are waiting to see evidence of God living up to all that His name means.  What name are you waiting for today?  While my name, Christine, may mean just one thing, Yahweh has many names and each one is rich in meaning.  Which prayer will you make yours?  I’ve started what could be a very long list.

Come, El Hanne’eman, faithful God!  Those around me fail to see what I need.  They cannot tell how badly I am in trouble.  Come and support me, nourish me. Continue reading “Which Name Do I Need?” →

Opening Up To A Fool

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Leave the presence of a fool, or you will not discern words of knowledge.  Proverbs 14:7

            If we spend too much time with the wrong people, our inner world is adversely affected.  Our parents said it this way, “Choose your friends wisely.”  They knew that playing soccer together was one thing but hanging out by the hour and talking was another.  It’s the latter that has the potential to defile.  Spend enough time with a person and there will be hours of sharing.  First, there will be an intellectual exchange. Eventually, we could feel comfortable enough to disclose more personal things and lose our objectivity about what should come out of our mouths.

            Many of us have given our heart to a fool.  A fool is one who scoffs at God’s ways and charts his own course.  Perhaps the fool is in our family.  How do we act on Solomon’s advice and guard our hearts?  Perhaps the real message today is – Keep your wits about you.  Stay sharp on acknowledging who follows God and who does not.  Don’t seek personal advice from someone who does not know God well.  Their ‘wisdom’ is not wisdom.  Trusting the words of a fool, in any respect, is like playing Russian roulette with your life.  Continue reading “Opening Up To A Fool” →

The Enemy’s Narcotics

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THE ENEMY’S NARCOTICS

I sent to find out about your faith, for fear that the tempter might have tempted you, and our labor should be in vain.  I Thess. 3:5

We weren’t created for pain, but for the garden.  Adam and Eve loved God and life was absolutely perfect.  Their world was utopian!  Then, the serpent spoke, they listened, and their first introduction to heartbreak occurred.  God judged their sin and they felt shame, remorse, and other emotions that had no fix.  Life was never the same again. Continue reading “The Enemy’s Narcotics” →

Will I Get Away With It?

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WILL I GET AWAY WITH IT?

For at the window of my house, I looked out through my lattice and saw the naive, a young man lacking sense, passing through the street near her corner; and he takes the way to her house.  Proverbs 7:6-8

            A young man sets out to conduct his business in town but it just so happens that he takes the route that allows him to pass by the house of the prostitute.  There is another way but at the juncture where he must choose, he turns from the safer alternative.  And so, the decision to pass her way gets easier with each passing day.  After all, nothing bad has happened on previous days.  The conclusion he makes is that flirting with temptation won’t hurt.  Continue reading “Will I Get Away With It?” →

Admitting That I Don’t Know Something

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ADMITTING THAT I DON’T KNOW SOMETHING

Every prudent man acts with knowledge.  Proverbs 13:16

            “She’s blowing smoke.” “She’s full of hot air!” Both comments, when said about us, bring humiliation.  It’s as if we’ve been exposed as imposters. The shame is profound and causes us to wonder, “Do we pretend to know what we have no knowledge of?”

            No one likes a know-it-all.  I know I don’t.  No matter what the subject, he has to rise up to act like he’s an authority on the topic.  Those who listen to him steal the floor and expound at length as if he’s been asked to ~ can usually tell if there’s real knowledge and experience behind his words. It’s pretty clear whether or not he’s credible or just likes to hear himself talk.  Continue reading “Admitting That I Don’t Know Something” →

When My Soul Comes Up Empty

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WHEN MY SOUL COMES UP EMPTY

What the wicked dreads will overtake him; what the righteous desire will be granted.  Proverbs 10:24

            A self-fulfilling prophecy is a frightening phenomenon.  I know, for I experienced one after another for the first forty years of my life.  I structured my life to do whatever would get approval, love, and respect.  While I received good measures of each, it was never enough. The feeling of ‘full’ eluded me. Emptiness, the thing I feared most, became my companion.

            If I want another person’s affection so badly that I will do anything to get it, the person I target starts backing up from me.  He senses my unbalance.  I wear the severity of my needs on my sleeve even though I might think I’m clever enough to conceal it.  He instinctively knows he cannot (and should not) feed such an insatiable appetite.  He knows his personal boundaries are being threatened.  He perceives that I am about to feed off his very soul.  What is the outcome?  Unless he has the need to rescue, there will be a painful backing away. The rejection I fear will surely come upon me. Continue reading “When My Soul Comes Up Empty” →

I Have Three Parents

Published on by Christine Wyrtzen1 Comment

I HAVE THREE PARENTS

Observe the commandment of your father, and do not forsake the teaching of your mother.  Bind them continually on your heart. When you walk, they will guide you; when you sleep, they will watch over you; when you awake, they will talk to you.  Proverbs 6:20-22

            I have three parents; the father and mother I was born to and my Heavenly Father.  Of the three, my Heavenly Father takes priority.

            Solomon advises me to observe the ways of my father and mother.  If a trait is godly, then I am to observe it and bind myself to it.  The problem is, without intention to do otherwise, I will naturally embrace all their ways.  I walk their paths by default. Is that a good thing?  Only if I embrace the good and discard the bad.  I must love God more than I love the ways of my parents!

            My father, now in heaven, was a man with a huge heart for God.   He counseled, taught the scriptures, walked out his faith beautifully and, in the process, was revered for his wisdom.  He lived in a small New England town where he is still talked about with reverence by those who knew him.  As I remember him, I hold his good traits close to my heart and they guide me.  But at the same time, I discard the bad.  My dad was consumed with worry and was driven to avoid criticism at all costs. I inherited these tendencies and lived crippled by them for many years.  It wasn’t until I severed my attachment to his sinful ways that I was free to follow my Father in heaven.     Continue reading “I Have Three Parents” →