Pathways Press.com

MEDITATION:

Written by Martin Luther (1483-1546), a German professor of theology, composer, priest and Augustinian monk. He was a seminal figure in the Reformation.

What could be more clear and concise than the truth of the Golden Rule? But the world won’t let us reflect on these words. Our sinful nature won’t let us measure our lives against this standard. We let this verse go in one ear and out the other. If we would continually compare our lives and actions against this standard, we wouldn’t live so carelessly. We would have more than enough to do and wouldn’t need to pursue other works we consider holy. We would become our own teachers and begin teaching ourselves how we should live. We wouldn’t need so many lawyers and law books, for this standard is concise and easy to learn. If only we were diligent and serious enough to live according to it.

Let me give a rough illustration. No one would like to be robbed. If you ask yourself, you would have to admit that you certainly wouldn’t enjoy it. So why don’t you conclude that everyone else feels the same way? At the market, you see that vendors charge as much as they wish for what they’re selling, so that it costs three times what it is worth. If you were to ask a vendor, “Excuse me, would you like this done to you?” he would have difficulty replying. If he were honest and thinking sensibly, he would have to say, “I want to pay the market value, what is just and fair. I don’t want to be overcharged.” So do you see the point? Your heart tells you how you would like to be treated, and your conscience tells you that you should treat others the same way.

PRAYER:

Written by Dionysius (?-845), patriarch of the Syrian Jacobite Church and author of important documents on Eastern Christianity.

God the Father, source of Divinity,

good beyond all that is good,

fair beyond all that is fair,

in you is calmness, peace, and unity.

Repair the things that divide us from each other

and restore our unity of love like your divine love.

And as you are above all things,

unite us in goodness and love that we may be spiritually one,

with you and with each other,

through your peace which makes all things peaceful

and through the grace, mercy, and tenderness

of your only Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

MEDITATION:

Written by John MacArthur, a contemporary evangelical pastor. This is an excerpt from his book “Daily Readings from the Life of Christ.”

Peter and Andrew obeyed Jesus’ call right away – “Immediately they left their nets and followed him” – an indication of how determined they were to go with the Lord. The word “followed” carries the meaning of being committed to imitating the one he or she follows.

Past surveys have shown that 95% of all professing Christians have never led someone to faith in Jesus Christ. Too often they are like the reclusive, frugal man many years ago who accumulated 246 expensive violins in the attic of his house in Italy. Because he selfishly acquired and held on to those instruments, the world never heard the beautiful music the violins were intended to play. Many believers hide their light and store away the great treasure they possess as children of God. As a result, 95% of the world’s spiritual violins have not been played for others.

Evangelist D.L. Moody especially admired two similar paintings. The first depicted a person in the midst of a storm clinging with both hands to a cross firmly planted in a rock. The other picture also showed a person in a storm firmly grasping a cross. But in this one the man was reaching out with his other hand to rescue someone who was about to drown. Both paintings pictured a Christian valiantly holding on to Christ. But the second one portrayed the believer reaching out for another who was about to be lost. For us, as for D.L. Moody, the second picture should be the favorite.

PRAYER:

This prayer is from the Morning and Evening Prayer services of the Evangelical Lutheran Worship.

Oh God, maker of all things new, You call us…Your servants…to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untraveled, through perils and joys still unknown.

Give us faith, oh God, to do all we are called to with courage, with hearts full of hope, with You, even though we do not know where we will land. Still, this is our assurance…

that Your love holds us

and Your hand leads us…always!

Through Jesus Christ.

Amen.

MEDITATION:

Written by Jerry Bridges (1929-2016), an evangelical Christian author, speaker, and staff member of The Navigators. This is an excerpt from his book “Holiness Day by Day.”

The word gospel essentially means “good news,” specifically about our relationship with God. We all like good news, especially if it addresses bad news we’ve just received. If you’ve just been told you have cancer, it’s good news when the doctor tells you it’s a type that readily responds to treatment. The gospel is like that. It’s good news that directly addresses our ultimate bad news. The Bible tells us we were in deep trouble with God; we were unrighteous and ungodly, and God’s wrath is revealed “against all the godlessness and wickedness of men:” in fact, we were “by nature objects of God’s wrath.  Coming into the world as a baby, before you’ve ever done anything bad, you were an object of God’s wrath. That’s the bad news.

Then the Bible tells us that God has provided a solution far surpassing our problem. The Good News always outweighs the bad. After telling us we were objects of God’s wrath, Paul added: “But…God, who is rich in mercy…raised us up with Christ, and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus.” That is surely a dust-to-glory story. What greater contrast could there be than an object of God’s wrath seated with His Son in glory?

This Good News doesn’t begin when we die. It’s for now. We don’t have to feel guilt-ridden and insecure before God. We don’t have to wonder if He likes us. We can begin each day with the deeply encouraging realization, I’m accepted by God, not on the basis of my personal performance, but on the basis of the infinitely perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ.

PRAYER:

Written by the Presbyterian Mission Agency.

Living God, through Jesus Christ

you emptied the power of death

and gave us the gift of life in fullness.

Now dry our tears and send us out

to tell the good news of the gospel:

Jesus Christ is risen from the dead.  Amen.

MEDITATION:

Written by William P. Smith. a contemporary pastor, author, and teacher.

God’s instructions were not arbitrary. We realize this when we look at God’s call to his children to enter the Promised Land, or to Moses to free his people. God did not order those things as extreme tests to develop his people’s faith. Those specific events were necessary to bring about his greater purposes of redemption. His people had to be freed from the bondage of slavery (Egypt) so that they could obey him. They had to actively fight against influences (Canaanites) that would tempt them, lead them astray, and re-enslave them. Anything short of these goals would distract his people from serving and enjoying him. His commands furthered his plan to establish a holy place for himself that would bless the whole earth. When he promised to go with them, he gave them an ironclad guarantee that his plans would not fail. Yet his promised presence came with the expectation that his people were moving in his direction. Often when I think God has failed me—that his presence wasn’t enough—I find upon reflection that I’ve tried to force him to go along with my agenda.

PRAYER:

Written by Billy Graham (1918-2018), an American Christian evangelist.

Our Father and Our God, we praise you for Your goodness to our nation, giving us blessings far beyond what we deserve. Yet we know all is not right with America. We deeply need a moral and spiritual renewal to help us meet the many problems we face. Convict us of sin. Help us to turn to You in repentance and faith. Set our feet on the path of Your righteousness and peace. We pray today for our nation’s leaders. Give them the wisdom to know what is right, and the courage to do it. You have said, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.” May this be a new era for America, as we humble ourselves and acknowledge You alone as our Savior and Lord. This we pray in your holy name. Amen.

MEDITATION:

Written by Edward T. Welch, a contemporary Christian counselor and director of the School of Biblical Counseling.

The ending makes all the difference. A tragic story like Shakespear’s Romeo and Juliet starts well, with people full of hope and love, but it ends badly. A comedy like Much Ado About Nothing opens with dark omens and scheming betrayers. The future looks very uncertain but it turns out wonderfully. It is the ending rather than the humor that makes it a comedy.

You must decide whether you will live life as a tragedy or a comedy. The story that Jesus offers you is a comedy. Scripture tells you the end, and, if you have put your faith in Jesus rather than in yourself, it is your end too. Jesus wins. His justice prevails. His love is seen for what it really is – boundless and irresistible. Our unity with him exceeds our imaginations. We will see that life was much more purposeful than we thought. Everything we ever did by faith—because of Jesus—stands firm and results in “praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” Knowing this, of course does not blot out sorrow. But knowing the end reveals that sorrow and death don’t win. For those who know Christ, life and joy are the last word.

PRAYER:

This is an Anglican Prayer of Thanksgiving.

Blessed are you, Lord our God.

How sweet are your words to the taste,

sweeter than honey to the mouth.

How precious are your commands for our life,

more than the finest gold in our hands.

How marvelous is your will for the world,

Unending is your love for the nations.

Our voices shall sing of your promises

and our lips declare your praise.

Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Blessed be God for ever. Amen.

MEDITATION:

Written by Scotty Smith is a contemporary pastor. This is an excerpt from his book “Everyday prayers”

In Rome I’ve seen statues of the various gods that filled the temples and lifestyle of that great ancient city. In London I’ve visited the biggest Hindu temple in the city and wandered from station to station as worshipers offered prayers and gifts to deities that looked so strange to me. In Israel I studied decaying remains of various idols that competed for the worship of the people of God. Idolatry is everywhere because there’s no such thing as a non-worshiper. Yet, to keep myself from idols requires so much more than simply staying away from ancient sites, pagan temples, and man-made idols. I’ve never been more aware of the invisible pantheon of idols that are constantly angling and clamoring for my heart’s worship. How I wish that as soon as I was placed in Christ my struggle with idolatry would have ceased. That’s simply not the case.

God, Sometimes the approval or rejection of people has more sway over my heart than what you think about me. Sometimes my need to be right is more compelling to me than being righteous in Christ. Sometimes my desire to be in control of people and circumstances claims much more of my time and energy than seeking your face, savoring your grace, and serving your Son—the true King. These are just a few of the things that bear the marks of idolatry in my heart.

PRAYER:

Written by Scotty Smith, author of today’s meditation.

Have mercy on me, Father, and free my foolish heart from giving anything or anyone the attention, allegiance, affection, and adoration you alone deserve. The fact that I’m one of your “dear children” – forgiven, secure, righteous, and beloved in Christ – should be all the motivation I need to keep myself from any form of idolatry. May the gospel of your grace relentlessly expose and dethrone all “empty nothings” from my heart. I pray in Jesus’ most worthy name. Amen.

MEDITATION:

Written by Paul David Tripp, a contemporary pastor and Christian author. This is an excerpt from his book “New Morning Mercies: A Daily Gospel Devotional.”

Sin does two very significant things to us all. First, it causes us all to insert ourselves into the center of our worlds, making life all about us. In our self-focus, we are all too motivated by our wants, our needs, and our feelings, and because we are, we tend to be more aware of what we don’t have than of the many wonderful blessings that we have been given. But there is more; because we are self-focused, we tend to be scorekeepers, constantly comparing our piles of stuff to the piles of others. It’s a life of discontentment and envy. Envy is always selfish.

There is a second thing of equal significance that sin does to us. It causes us to look horizontally for what can only be found vertically. So we look to creation for life, hope, peace, rest, contentment, identity, meaning and purpose, inner peace, and motivation to continue. The problem is that nothing in creation can give you these things. Creation was never designed to satisfy your heart. Creation was made to be one big finger pointing you to the One who alone has the ability to satisfy your heart. Many people will get up today and in some way will ask creation to be their savior, that is, to give them what only God is able to give. When you are satisfied with the Giver, because you have found in him the life you were looking for, you are freed from the ravenous quest for satisfaction that is the discouraging existence of so many people., Yes, it is true that your heart will rest only ever when it has found rest in Him. 

One of the most beautiful fruits of grace is a heart that is content, more given to worship than demand and more given to the joy of gratitude than the anxiety of want. It is grace and grace alone that can make this kind of peaceful living possible for each of us. Won’t you reach out today for that grace?

PRAYER:

Written by Robert Hawker (1753-1827), a popular Anglican  preacher, poet, and author.

I come now for large supplies of your grace, mercy, pardon, and peace. I seek you, Jesus — you yourself, with your gifts, with all your fullness and all your blessings.And I am sure if you will give me as large a hand to receive as my Lord’s hand is to give, I will be blessed. Amen.

MEDITATION:

Written by J. Stephen Lang, a contemporary Christian author. This is an excerpt from his book “The Christian History Devotional.”

What would you say if you had two minutes to address a room full of the most powerful politicians in America? That question must have occurred many times to Peter Marshall, one of the most quoted preachers of his day. Born in 1902 in Scotland, Peter arrived in America when he was twenty-four. He made friends at a church who financed his education at a seminary in Atlanta, was ordained, and served a small church. He moved back to Atlanta to pastor another church  and met his future wife, Catherine Wood (who, as Catherine Marshall, became a noted Christian author). In 1937 he was called to be the pastor of the “power church,” New York Avenue Presbyterian in Washington, with its pews full of political VIPs. Marshall’s sermons drew crowds and were often reprinted in Reader’s Digest and The New Yorker.

The US Senate asked Marshall to serve as its chaplain, a position he assumed on January 4, 1947. The chaplaincy was mostly ceremonial, consisting of the chaplain opening each day’s session with a prayer. Marshall saw this mere formality as a means of speaking truth to the powerful. In one of his first prayers in the Senate chamber, he prayed, “We are at cross-purposes with each other. Take us by the hand and help us see things from Thy viewpoint.” Marshall’s prayers were collected and published as Mr. Jones, Meet the Master.  Peter with his Scot’s accent, oozed charm and warmth. He had a contagious zest for life, which helped to draw young people to his church. He packed a great deal of living and life-changing influence into a few years. Peter had a heart attack, then a second, and died January 26, 1949, at the age of 46. His widow published his story as A Man Called Peter.

PRAYER:

This is an old Welsh prayer for peace.

As we go: take Jesus in our hearts to offer His love to the loveless; take God in our minds to speak the name of peace to the restless; take the Holy Spirit into our lives  to live in Her power, for the sake of all our human family. Amen.

MEDITATION:

Written by Bill Gaultiere, a contemporary psychologist and spiritual formation pastor to pastors. This is an excerpt from his Soul Shepherding blog.

Dallas Willard defines spiritual formation for the Christ-follower as, “The Spirit-driven process of forming the inner world of the human self in such a way that it becomes like the inner being of Christ himself.”  Notice that spiritual formation focuses on the Spirit of Jesus shaping our inner being. Your thoughts, feelings, motives, choices, body, and relational connections all need to be re-formed by grace. Jesus says we’re called to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, strength, and relationships. There are more dynamics involved in human flourishing and social justice (or not) than to just believe and do what’s right, as is often taught. The pandemic has revealed what has been forming people on the inside for months and years prior. Under stress, their previously developed attitudes, emotional postures, relational alliances, patterns of choice, and bodily habits take over. Most of this is unconscious. To love others like Jesus does, we need to bring our whole self to him in a process of training. We’re spending time with him in an emotionally honest relationship, confessing our hurts and short-comings, and absorbing his mercy and teaching.

Jesus’ first followers suffered from injustice, abuse, and divisiveness. They were not racist, raging, abusing alcohol, or overwhelmed with fear like so many people today in the pandemic. They were loving to all people, including different ethnic groups and their enemies. How did they do this? How did they keep blessing those that cursed them? They trained with the Master to learn his easy yoke way of doing hard things. They developed heart habits of enjoying God’s loving presence and sharing his love with others. Jesus is inviting you to train with him when he says, “I see how tired you are. I have a tender heart for you. Come get into the grace-yoke with me. Let’s pull the plow across the field together so we can harvest crops of love and peace to feed hungry people.  We learn the easy yoke way of Jesus through engaging in a strategic mix of spiritual disciplines like Bible study, quiet prayer, serving others, and soul talk with friends.

PRAYER:

Written by John Henry Newman (1801-1890), an English theologian, poet and priest.

Help me spread your fragrance everywhere I go — let me preach you without preaching, not by words but by my example — by the catching force, the sympathetic influences of what I do, the evident fullness of the love my heart bears to you. Amen.

MEDITATION:

Written by C.S. Lewis (1898-1963), a British writer, professor, and lay theologian. This is excerpted from his book “Mere Christianity.”

Though Christian charity sounds a very cold thing to people whose heads are full of sentimentality, and though it is quite distinct from affection, yet it leads to affection. The difference between a Christian and a worldly man is not that the worldly man has only affections or “likings” and the Christian has only “charity.” The worldly man treats certain people kindly because he “likes” them: the Christian, trying to treat every one kindly, finds himself liking more and more people as he goes on—including people he could not even have imagined himself liking at the beginning.

This same spiritual law works terribly in the opposite direction. The Germans, perhaps, at first ill-treated the Jews because they hated them; afterwards they hated them much more because they had ill-treated them. The more cruel you are, the more you will hate; and the more you hate, the more cruel you will become—and so on in a vicious circle forever. 

Good and evil both increase at compound interest. That is why the little decisions you and I make every day are of such infinite importance. The smallest good act today is the capture of a strategic point from which, a few months later, you may be able to go on to victories you never dreamed of. An apparently trivial indulgence in lust or anger today is the loss of a ridge or railway line or bridgehead from which the enemy may launch an attack otherwise impossible.

PRAYER:

From the Gelasian Sacramentary, a book of Christian liturgy, which is the oldest western liturgical book that has survived.  The book is linked to Pope Gelasius I. It was compiled near Paris around 750.

O God,

you divide the day from the night.

Give us hearts and minds

unshadowed by the gloom of evil,

that we may think continually upon things

that are good and wholesome,

and be always pleasing in your sight;

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.