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.
Living For God – A Formula For Success
Today’s Passage – 2 Chronicles 30 – 31
And thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah, and wrought that which was good and right and truth before the LORD his God. And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and prospered. (2Chronicles 31:20-21)
I think one of the main reasons that God wants us to daily spend time in His word is because that it serves to remind us daily of the basic truth that God will bless those who seek Him and serve Him. As we have been reading in these historical books, we have seen over and over again the blessings of God upon the godly kings; and conversely the judgment of God upon the wicked. Of course, none of the kings were perfect; all made mistakes; but when they sought the Lord for forgiveness, God would always respond in mercy. Even the bad kings that humbled themselves before God would receive mercy. As we look today at the life of Hezekiah we see the same principle in place. Hezekiah “wrought that which was good and right and truth before the Lord his God…with all his heart”, and God prospered him.
Child of God, the same applies to you and me today. I am not trying to over-simplify the Christian life, but the principles of succeeding in life are really very easy to understand. Find out what the will of God is for your life; and then fulfil it with all of your heart. Give it everything you’ve got. Live for God! I’m not saying that every day is going to be amusement parks and sunshine; but you will have that abundant life Jesus spoke of. It’s your choice: live for God and your life will be blessed of God; live for self, and you will look back with regret.
Posted in Devotions by Phil Erickson with 1 comment.
You Can Beat Them If You Don’t Join Them
Today’s Passage – 2 Chronicles 27 – 29
But a prophet of the LORD was there, whose name was Oded: and he went out before the host that came to Samaria, and said unto them, Behold, because the LORD God of your fathers was wroth with Judah, he hath delivered them into your hand, and ye have slain them in a rage that reacheth up unto heaven. (2Chronicles 28:9)
For he sacrificed unto the gods of Damascus, which smote him: and he said, Because the gods of the kings of Syria help them, therefore will I sacrifice to them, that they may help me. But they were the ruin of him, and of all Israel. (2Chronicles 28:23)
In the three chapters that we are reading today, we have the account of three kings of Judah: Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. Two of these kings were good men; and under their reign the nation of Judah was blessed and prosperous. However, during the reign of Ahaz, who was not a good king, the nation suffered. I thought it interesting that Ahaz misinterpreted the reason for the condition of his nation. He believed that the reason why his nation was suffering was somehow because of the blessing of some other god on those nations. In actuality, the reason why other nations were defeating Judah in battle, and oppressing them was because of the wickedness of the king and the nation, which caused the judgment of GOD on the nation. However, because he misunderstood the cause, he could not correct the situation. He figured that if he starting acting more like the other nations, worshipping their gods, that he too would be blessed. But the result of his thinking brought about more destruction to Judah.
I find that God’s people today will often use this same kind of logic. The Christians in America today have almost completely forsaken the God of the Bible. We have “a form of godliness, but [deny] the power thereof”. We have heaped to ourselves teachers having itching ears. We truly are living in perilous times. However, instead of recognizing the judgment of God upon our nation and turning back to Him, we go farther away from Him. We see what appears to be the blessing and prosperity upon the lost people around us and figure that God must not really care about all of the wickedness. after all, he is allowing it to happen. People reason, “if you can’t beat ’em, you might as well join ’em.” All of this logic results in the further deterioration of our families, churches, and our nation.
As God’s people, we need to wholly follow the Lord our God, regardless of the spiritual atmosphere of the world around us. According to 2 Chronicles 7:14, it will be God’s people who will turn this nation around; but that will not happen unless we forsake the evil around as and turn back to old-fashioned, separated, and godly living.
Posted in Devotions by Phil Erickson with 1 comment.
There’s Plenty More Where That Came From
And Amaziah said to the man of God, But what shall we do for the hundred talents which I have given to the army of Israel? And the man of God answered, The LORD is able to give thee much more than this. (2 Chronicles 25:9)
In the three chapters we have read today we see pretty much the same patterned that we have observed throughout the Chronicles of the kings of Israel and Judah. That is, if the king was following the Lord and submitting to His will, His reign was blessed and prosperous. Conversely, if the king chooses to forsake God, then God also would forsake him. Out the window would go God’s provision and protection.
I was caught by the story in chapter 25 regarding the King of Judah, Amaziah, hiring 100,000 men out of Israel to help him fight against the Edomites. He paid 7500 pounds of silver to the Israelites in order to hire them. God was not pleased with Judah yoking up with Israel for this battle, and He sent a man of God to Amaziah to tell him to fire the Israelites and send them home. Amaziah was willing to do this, but was upset about the money that he had already spent. God assured him that there was plenty more where that came from.
I got to thinking about how many times God’s people get messed up over money. Sometimes we get into a dispute with our brothers and sisters in Christ over some business deal; and we find ourselves fighting over money. Can I give you some advice: give in; don’t fight over money. If someone is insisting that you owe them something, give it to them. You might say, why would I do that? Because your relationship with people is more important than any amount of money; and if you do the right thing, God will replace what you lose with interest. We stress far too much about money. We give it too the church; but tie a string from ourselves to the money, and then get upset about it later. Don’t give it if you can’t completely let go of it. It really comes down to a matter of faith. If God asks you to give it, then give it. He has more to give you, and He will bless abundantly the person that trusts Him with their money.
The king of Judah almost continued in a bad plan, simply because he had already laid out the money for it. He almost let money cause the destruction of his nation. Many a Christian I know has allowed the love of money to destroy them. My preacher used to say, “God’s got plenty of money”. And you and I can get all that we need if we will be willing to let go what He has already given us. It’s all His anyway. I am not talking about being a bad steward here; but I am saying that we need to be able to let go of HIS money, anytime He asks us to.
Posted in Devotions by Phil Erickson with no comments yet.