The Sovereignty of God
Today’s Passage – Esther 1 – 3
When I read the passage today from the first three chapters of Esther, I considered how awesome our God is. The nation of Israel is going to survive no matter who comes up against them. God has promised that they would. Here in this passage we see the rise to power of a wicked anti-Semite (Haman) who sought to eliminate the Jews from off of the face of the earth. However, God was working behind the scenes all along, putting the right people in position that would be there when needed to thwart Haman’s wicked plan. God raised up Mordecai and Esther for just this purpose. Now if Esther chooses not to obey God, He will get somebody else to do the job; but Esther would forever remember that she blew an opportunity to serve and glorify the God of the Universe.
I wonder what God is raising me up for; or perhaps my children. Could it be that God is positioning you and I for some part of His perfect plan. Could it be that God has some great task for us to accomplish in His will. Everything that God wants us to do is great. I wonder, though, will I be ready when the time comes? Will I make the right decision. As we will see, Esther wavered slightly before finally making the right decision. I hope that I will choose to do the right thing when the time comes. I hope that God won’t have to pick somebody else to do what I could do. I hope that when the time comes, I will be found faithful.
Posted in Devotions by Phil Erickson with no comments yet.
We Will Not Forsake The House Of Our God.
Today’s Passage – Nehemiah 10 – 13
For the children of Israel and the children of Levi shall bring the offering of the corn, of the new wine, and the oil, unto the chambers, where are the vessels of the sanctuary, and the priests that minister, and the porters, and the singers: and we will not forsake the house of our God. (Nehemiah 10:39)
As I read the passage this morning from the 10th chapter of Nehemiah the phrase, “we will not forsake the house of our God” jumped out at me. In this carefree day that we live in we see the house of God being forsaken in many ways. Let me list some of them:
1 In the area of giving.
The context of this chapter deals with this point. The people made a vow here that they would put God first in their tithes and offerings. Today, in our churches, the sad reality is that very few people tithe; and by not giving they are voting to forsake the house of God. The strength of God’s house will be determined by the support of the people.
We also forsake the house of God when we do not give our time in service to the Lord.
2 In the area of going.
Two things I think of when it comes to going. The first is that many folks just don’t go to church as often as they should. The Bible is clear that we are not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together, especially in these last days.
Secondly, however, we see very few people in our churches that are willing to go out into the highways and hedges and share the gospel with the folks in their community. Jesus commands us to go; and when we fail to obey Him in this area we are forsaking the House of God.
3 In the area of gossip
If the Christian is going to be able to live the victorious Christian life, he must be a part of a strong church. However, when people run their mouths about the preacher or the church, they are reducing the strength of the ministry. They are forsaking the House of God.
In this post Christian culture that we live in today, God’s people must determine to support and strengthen the House of God. We desperately need strong churches today if our families are to survive in their fight against the world, flesh, and the devil.
Posted in Devotions by Phil Erickson with 4 comments.
The Qualifications Are Simple
Today’s Passage – Nehemiah 7 – 9
When Nehemiah was looking for a man to be the mayor of Jerusalem. He looked for a man with three qualifications:
1 He chose a man that was a follower.
Now the man that he chose happened to be his brother. I am not advocating nepotism here; but the fact of the matter is that the people that we entrust with positions of leadership should be familiar to us. We need to know their qualities; and we need to know their flaws. They ought to be people that we have had a working relationship with in the past. People that have proven themselves over the years. A good leader will have already been a good follower.
2 He chose a man that was faithful.
God has told us that a faithful man is hard to find. By the way, we ought to select people based on the faithfulness of their past; not on the promised faithfulness of their future.
He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. (Luke 16:10)
3 He chose a man that feared God.
If you are looking for a wise leader, look for someone who fears the Lord. The Bible is clear that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of both knowledge and wisdom. People who do not fear the Lord cannot even begin to have wisdom.
Posted in Devotions by Phil Erickson with 1 comment.
Guest Post by Sara Scates
I don’t exactly remember when it started. One day, she just wouldn’t get in the bathtub. So I didn’t make her. Judge me if you want; she got in bed dirty that night. The fight just wasn’t worth it. Afterall, I was ready for bed too. But on the second night when she refused to bathe, I couldn’t just ignore her again. She really needed that bath. So we began the struggle. Every night it was the same. It started with me asking her to come and get in the bathtub, to which she would reply, “I don’t want.” I, in my kindest, sweetest Mommy voice would explain to her that she is the child. That she does not always know what is best for her and she does not always get what she wants. I would tell her that this is about her health and well-being; everyone has to take a bath! She’d just look at me, not getting it.
I then went on to trying a different approach. I’d say excitedly, “Lexi! Its time! Let’s go play in the bathtub!” And she’d blink her eyes very fast, big crocodile tears beginning to run down her cheeks. Her one more plea for sympathy. When she saw that the tears were not getting her anywhere, she would begin to shriek, “No bath, no bath, NO BATH!” as if the water would indeed melt her beautiful brown skin. I’d try saying it more sternly the next time. “Lexi! Bath time!” My next step would be to lift her to her feet and half drag her down the hall to the bathroom. Her sorrow would then turn to anger. She’d make her best “I don’t like you Mom” face, fold her arms and plop to her bottom. “I DON’T WANT!”, she would repeat. So I would pick her up. She would kick and scream and eventually I would succeed at getting her into the bathtub. She would then begin to flail around in there for a bit, much like a cat would do if you attempted to bathe it. She would let me know with her wails that I was ruining her life and she may never be happy again. My how these daily episodes put a damper on our mornings, and nights, and occasional middle-of-the-nights.
And then after she was wet, I was wet, and I began to ponder whether its really that important for children to bathe daily anyway, the same thing would happen every time… As she splashed more and more and the bubbles became more and more bubbly, she would remember. She really liked the bath. Bathtime was fun. Not to mention a really great way to get clean. In fact most of the time, she wouldn’t want to get out of the bath. You see, the bath time struggle was not at all about the bath. It was about obedience. She was a toddler and she simply did not want to obey. She thought it should be her decision whether or not she got in the bathtub. She was a toddler and was trying to figure out just how much control she had in her little life.
Maybe the fact that this went on as long as it did was a result of me being a young, unexperienced mother. Looking back I suppose I should have disciplined her more severely for her disobedience. But the reality is, little disobedient Lexi reminds me so much of grown-up, present-day Sara. Like Lexi who didn’t have the insight to know what was really good for her, I sometimes cross my arms and pout and shout “I don’t want!” when God instructs me on what is best for my life too. I have it in my head that I want to do what I want to do. I wake up each morning and prepare for bed each night thinking of what I think is best for my life. When God calls out “Sara! Its time!” and begins to speak to me and show me what He has for me to do, my gut instinct is many times- run the other way, no not today, He doesn’t really know whats best for MY life. But guess what, He does! And if I would just obey Him, the FIRST time, how much more joy-filled my mornings, and nights, and middle-of-the-nights would be!
Because you see, once I face the reality that I don’t really know whats best for my life, even as an adult- I begin to submit to HIS will. I hop in the tub gladly. Only then do I experience real joy, real peace, real fun, real washing away of all the filth and grime I was covered in. I find myself in the very center of His will. And its at that point that I realize, ‘hey, its not so bad in here afterall!’ I shudder to think what I may have missed in my disobedience. I am so thankful that God in His grace does not allow me to win. Usually, the fight is not really about what He is asking me to do. It is not about the bathtub. It is about me, trying to figure out just how much control I have over my little life. Just like Lexi at bathtime. I would like to tell you that I always do exactly what the Lord asks of me. I would like to tell you that I always seek Him first when a difficult situation presents itself. But most times I don’t. Sometimes I still think it should me my decision what I do with my life. He asks, and reasons, and encourages. He gently explains that I do not know what is best for me and that I do not always get what I want. And I just look at Him, not getting it. I whine and sob and shriek, just like a tired, angry toddler who doesn’t want to take a bath. And so He picks me up, exhausted from struggling, and plops me in the center of His will for my life. And then a funny thing happens. After I’m done kicking and screaming and struggling, I remember. I like being in the center of God’s will for my life. It feels a whole lot like being held all wrapped up inside a warm towel. God’s plan is usually pretty great. It is a whole lot better than mine anyway. I am so glad that He doesn’t allow me to win. Instead he just tries another route, hoping that I will soon see that He really is right about what is best for my life and submit to what He wants me to do.
If you were to walk into my house at bathtime a few years back, you might have thought I was a pretty horrible mother, letting my child kick and scream and wail on the floor like that. But I think sometimes He allows us to throw a fit, to be horribly resistant, to appreciate how awesome it is when we finally obey. I am happy to report that one day, Lexi began remembering how much she liked the bath before she began crying. She eventually got to a point where she would come running when I would tell her it was bath time. I am praying that one day soon, I will begin remembering how much I love and desire God’s plan for my life before I begin questioning and arguing and insisting that my desires are greater than His. Maybe I’ll even get to the point of submitting the first time He asks something of me.
Posted in Guest Posts by Phil Erickson with 2 comments.
Building Something For God
Today’s Passage – Nehemiah 1 – 3
And I said unto the king, If it please the king, and if thy servant have found favour in thy sight, that thou wouldest send me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers’ sepulchres, that I may build it.
(Nehemiah 2:5)
I love reading these stories about people who build something great for the Lord. Nehemiah heard that his home city, Jerusalem, was in a mess and he decided to do something about it. I see in this passage a pattern that can be followed by God’s people today as we desire to be used of Him to fulfill His will for our lives.
1 Nehemiah prayed – He had a burden for Jerusalem and the people of God.
And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire. And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven, (Nehemiah 1:3-4)
He wept; he fasted; and he prayed for the condition of Jerusalem. When he prayed, he reminded God of the promises that God had made about His mercy on the people if they would turn back to God.
2 Nehemiah performed – he took action.
The difference between Nehemiah and most of us is that he was willing to prepare and act upon the burden that he had. So many of us have a burden to do something; but we never get to the point where we take action. In the local church, we see many people who know what needs to be done; but never actually do it. Don’t just talk about (or worse complain about it); do something about it.
3 Nehemiah persisted – He did not quit.
So many of us today allow the slightest things to knock us off course. Nehemiah did not quit because of the difficulty of the task; or from the opposition that he faced (which will always be there).
When I read these passages, I get excited about doing something for the Lord. I want to be able to say at the end of my life (and at the end of my day) that I accomplished something for the Lord.
Posted in Devotions by Phil Erickson with 4 comments.
Leave Them Be
Today’s Passage – Ezra 5 – 7
Let the work of this house of God alone; let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews build this house of God in his place. (Ezra 6:7)
This verse jumped out at me when I read it. Darius the King of Persia ordered the governors that were over the land of Judah to let the people of God alone; and stop trying to hinder them in their work of re-building the Temple. If you recall from chapter 4, the devil had used some people to complain to the king about the Jews and the work they were trying to do. The king (Atexerxes at the time) ordered the work stopped, because he believed the lies of these men. Later, however, the people of God went back to work, apparently without authorization. Again the children of the devil began to complain and worked to stop the people of God from their work. This time, King Darius (whose heart was in the Lord’s hand) not only approved their work; but also financed it. And best of all, he commanded that the enemies of God were to “leave them alone” in their work.
Today, there are many people inside and outside of the church that are working against the cause of Christ. We can’t really do too much about the government, or anybody else outside of the local church; but let me offer some advice to those of you within the local body. You need to find a way to support and serve your church as it strives to fulfill the Great Commission. Keep your hands of hindrance off those who are trying to bring the ministry forward. Lead, follow, but by all means get out of the way of the folks who are trying to do what God has called them to do. Leave them be.
Posted in Devotions by Phil Erickson with 3 comments.
It’s Never Going To Be The Same
Today’s Passage – Ezra 1 – 4
But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy: So that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people: for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off.
In chapter 3 of today‘s passage we see the children of Israel (or at least some of them) back in their land after a long captivity in Babylon and Persia. Eventually they begin the process of rebuilding the Temple of God that had been completely destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar years earlier. Remember, the Temple that had been constructed by Solomon was perhaps the most beautiful piece of architecture that has ever been built, with literally tons of gold covering much of the building itself, and also the furniture and instruments used in the temple. The building that they were in the process of constructing now could not possibly compare to the old one. However, it is important to note that these elder men who were despondent over the lack of luxury in this new temple had actually never seen the presence of God at the old one. At the time that they were there (before the captivity), the glory of God had long since departed because of the falling away of the people of God. So these elders were upset simply because of a building. They failed to see that this new building, though not nearly as ornate and expensive as the old, had the potential for being a place where God would actually meet with His people.
In my 20 years or so of being saved, I have seen this same mentality. I have seen church buildings that were absolutely gorgeous with large auditoriums, countless classrooms, fellowship halls, and even landscaped gardens. However many of these buildings, though beautiful, have “Ichabod” written all over them. But on the other side of town there is a storefront building with no classrooms where a preacher and church are boldly proclaiming the Truth, with the Spirit of God all over them. Yet, most people in the world; and even most Christians would say that the church with the beautiful facility is the “real” church.
One more thought from this passage: Sometimes, those that have been saved for awhile, and have seen the power of God in previous years, tend to live in the past. God does not live in the past. Actually he is way ahead of us. We are supposed to be following Him. This is partially what Paul meant when he said, “leaving those things which are behind”. I believe the greatest movement of God is yet to come. I believe the greatest days of Jersey Shore Baptist Church will be in the tomorrows; not in the yesterdays. While I rejoice over what God has done in the past, I am looking for “greater works than these”.
Posted in Devotions by Phil Erickson with 1 comment.
You’ve Gone Too Far This Time
Today’s Passage – 2 Chronicles 35 – 36
And the LORD God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes, and sending; because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place:But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, till there was no remedy.Therefore he brought upon them the king of the Chaldees, who slew their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion upon young man or maiden, old man, or him that stooped for age: he gave them all into his hand.
God, in His mercy, will send us messengers to warn us of the judgment that is coming if we fail to humble ourselves before Him, and submit to His will. Oftentimes the people of God would turn back to him and would escape the judgment, or at least postpone the judgment. But here we see the people of God, not only rejecting the Word of God; but are also mocking and attacking His messengers.
Today in America, the Spirit-filled preacher of the Word of God is also mocked, and sometimes even attacked by the world around them; and even sometimes by the people of God. God will not put up with this too much longer. There will come a time when God will say, “enough is enough”. And when that happens we are finished as a nation.
But let’s think of this a little more personally. Do you as a faithful member of a Bible preaching church consider the preaching and teaching by the pastor as a message from God; or perhaps do you just think of it as just good information that may or may not be helpful. Are we not guilty of almost the same thing as these people from Judah, when we don’t heed the warnings and exhortation given to us by God in our churches. When you listen to the preaching this week, look past the preacher and focus on the message that God has supernaturally ordained to be given to you through His messenger. Support your preacher: cheer him on as he labors to deliver the message from God to your family.
Posted in Devotions by Phil Erickson with 3 comments.
The Marvelous Grace of God
Today’s Passage – 2 Chronicles 32 – 34
And when he was in affliction, he besought the LORD his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers,And prayed unto him: and he was intreated of him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD he was God. (2Chronicles 33:12 & 13)
Just a quick thought this morning from 2 Chronicles 33. Manasseh was a bad dude. He was arguably the most wicked king in the history of Judah. Yet, God got hold of him; and he turned his heart to God. And that is not the end: He went on to serve God in a great way after his salvation. He made right many of his former wrongs.
It was the same way for me. I was a sinner deserving of the lowest Hell; yet, God got hold of my heart and gloriously saved me. Praise the Lord for His marvelous grace.
Posted in Devotions by Phil Erickson with no comments yet.