Jody's Devotionals

[Jesus said,] “Don’t lay up treasures for yourselves on the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consume, and where thieves don’t break through and steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”             Matthew 6:19-21 (WEB)

On May 22, 1979 my heart was forever changed in a mere 24 hours. I started the morning no different than the day before or the day before that. I was pregnant. I knew that the baby was coming soon, (Thank the LORD!) but the exact date was a little “iffy” as all the measurements weren’t adding up like they were supposed to. The baby by ultrasound looked like it was on time for the next week or so but my belly was huge for such a small infant.

Four years before, prior to my marriage, I was pregnant. I had an abortion. The reasons that I made that decision seemed to make it the only decision. Throughout this second pregnancy I was tormented by thoughts that I the child I carried would be harmed in some way as punishment for my sin.

By evening, I was in labor. The next morning, my daughter was born. But God wasn’t done. Despite three ultrasounds during the pregnancy, God had another surprise. Two minutes after I had a daughter, I had a son. Twins!

Jesus speaks to me in this passage about the accumulation of treasure. But he makes it clear that He is not speaking about gold, iPads, cars, houses, boats, or shoes. He is speaking about treasure that will not decay. The treasure that Jesus points me to deposit into my life is not tangible with my hands or my eyes but I can see it with my heart, my spirit (1 Corinthians 2:14).

On that day in May, I received such an extravagant gift of love and forgiveness from God. I didn’t deserve it. I had done anything except cry “I’m sorry” in my heart. God knew that. He responded with a tangible expression of an intangible treasure. He gave me twice what I had so carelessly discarded. And He didn’t stop there. He began a healing in my heart that has brought me to where He and I are today – in an intimate relationship that is a treasure beyond price!

Janet and John are grown now with children of their own. I have told them the story of their birth many times and have always attempted to express to them the treasure from God that they are. I believe that as they have held their own newborns, they now understand.

My children are in my care for only a short time in the expanse of eternity. When they committed their lives to Jesus, accepting Him as Savior, they became a part of the treasure that Jesus told me that God desires for me. They will tell their children. And I pray that we will all be together for eternity with Jesus. That is a legacy of real treasure.

[Jesus said,] “You cannot be the slave of two masters! You will like one more than the other or be more loyal to one than the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

I tell you not to worry about your life. Don’t worry about having something to eat, drink, or wear. Isn’t life more than food or clothing? Look at the birds in the sky! They don’t plant or harvest. They don’t even store grain in barns. Yet your Father in heaven takes care of them. Aren’t you worth more than birds?

Can worry make you live longer? Why worry about clothes? Look how the wild flowers grow. They don’t work hard to make their clothes. But I tell you that Solomon with all his wealth wasn’t as well clothed as one of them. God gives such beauty to everything that grows in the fields, even though it is here today and thrown into a fire tomorrow. He will surely do even more for you! Why do you have such little faith? Don’t worry and ask yourselves, “Will we have anything to eat? Will we have anything to drink? Will we have any clothes to wear?” Only people who don’t know God are always worrying about such things. Your Father in heaven knows that you need all of these. But more than anything else, put God’s work first and do what he wants. Then the other things will be yours as well.

Don’t worry about tomorrow. It will take care of itself. You have enough to worry about today.                        Matthew 6:24-34 (CEV)

Of all the Scriptures from this Mount sermon, I think this is the one that I am the most quick to say, “Yes. OK. You’re right, Lord.” and then just as quickly fill my mind with reasons why it won’t really work or this passage isn’t for me, today, in the 21^st century.

It is exactly for me right now.

There is no other time in the history of our existence where money isn’t at the forefront of our minds and directs our decisions. If I want to “get real” with God, then look at the priority I put on making money and where I spend what I make. Take an inventory of what is in my house, dividing each item under “need” vs “want”. It is not just about whether I can afford the items. Is it God’s wisdom and plan that directs my spending? Am I hearing Him directing me to opportunities to serve His children who are in need? Am I missing the blessings that He wants to give to me?

I believe that many times my fixation on money is because I am worried. Yes, the very thing that Jesus tells me not to do. And He gives very convincing words on why I shouldn’t worry. Bottom line: it doesn’t do any good! It does not extend my life or make a problem “better”. Jesus states quite emphatically that I should put God’s work first in my life and the Father will provide all that I need.

And there is the two-fold problem. First, I am not really completely committed to God and His way in my life. Second, I am not really convinced that God will provide for my needs…the needs that I have determined. And so I am not really committed to His way…and it becomes an endless circle that can only be changed when I make a change.

This Scripture passage is hard. It demands in-depth and ongoing study and prayer. It is not to be dismissed or hastily interpreted in my life. It requires the Holy Spirit to carefully and thoroughly examine my life; my very thoughts. And then I must accept God’s truth and make corrections as He directs. This passage is a core principle in my life as a disciple of Jesus Christ. A life in which He handles all the worry.

“Choose this day who you will serve, Jody!” (Joshua 24:15)

[Jesus said,]“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”       Matthew 5:38-48 (NIV)

If I think I can live my life without the Holy Spirit’s help, the last sentence corrected my thinking! “Be perfect!” Jesus sets the standard. He is compassionate. He came to save me and show me how to live my life here in the time I am given. Jesus does not wink at my sins. He doesn’t condemn and beat me up when I do sin. He is here when I ask Him to forgive me and then shows me the better way.

This journey is the Good News story that Jesus wants me to share with others. This is the Good News that Jesus is intimately involved in our lives. He saw each one of us from the cross and said, “I want them with us forever, Father. It is finished.” And when He rose from the dead, the keys of any hell that the enemy would try to lure me towards is in Jesus’ hands and I am free. Good News.

On first thought, I deny that I have enemies. I think of an enemy as someone with whom I am at war. I haven’t declared war on anyone. But then the Holy Spirit comes in and recalls to my mind thoughts and actions that are falling ‘way short from where Jesus wants me to live. What do I think and say about people that I put into the “terrorist group”? What do I think when I hear that someone drank and drove their car and killed someone?

Jesus does mention any exceptions. Jesus says I am to love my enemies. If they take advantage of me, take the high road and walk out Jesus’ example. Jesus cannot be out-given. He shows me how He won disciples with Hi love. He drew the people in because He taught with truth, never lowering His standard, but giving of Himself and with much love and forgiveness.

Jesus gives us the metaphors of Father and children, Bride and Bridegroom so that we can meet at a point of reference to begin to understand the breadth and depth of His love. Jesus wants us to learn His love so that we may give it away – to our family, friends, and enemies. No one is left out except the one who is Jesus’ enemy. Satan is His enemy because Satan chose to be.

Let us spend time this weekend considering how Jesus fulfilled God’s Law. Allow His words to take root in our hearts and teach us how to be more like Him. May we truly see how His lessons will impact our lives and obediently live in God’s will in all things, perfect as He is perfect.

[Jesus said,]“You have been taught that a man who divorces his wife must write out divorce papers for her. But I tell you not to divorce your wife unless she has committed some terrible sexual sin. If you divorce her, you will cause her to be unfaithful, just as any man who marries her is guilty of taking another man’s wife.

You know that our ancestors were told, “Don’t use the Lord’s name to make a promise unless you are going to keep it.” But I tell you not to swear by anything when you make a promise! Heaven is God’s throne, so don’t swear by heaven. The earth is God’s footstool, so don’t swear by the earth. Jerusalem is the city of the great king, so don’t swear by it. Don’t swear by your own head. You cannot make one hair white or black. When you make a promise, say only “Yes” or “No.” Anything else comes from the devil.”          Matthew 5:31-37 (CEV)

Jesus replied, “You are so heartless! That’s why Moses allowed you to divorce your wife. But from the beginning God did not intend it to be that way. I say that if your wife has not committed some terrible sexual sin, you must not divorce her to marry someone else. If you do, you are unfaithful.”       Matthew 19:8-9 (CEV)

We are all aware that 50% of marriages end in divorce. That statistic is no better for church-going Christians, so let us not think that Jesus’ words aren’t for us. It isn’t divorce that I believe we should be looking at when discussing how we could improve the statistic. By the time you are thinking divorce or filing papers or entering court, I think we could say that the dye has been cast. I know because I have been through it. After almost 20 years of marriage, I was divorced.

It is marriage that we do not understand. Marriage is a covenant. It is a serious commitment. I’ve gotten it right this time. Here is what I finally learned when I did it God’s way:

• I do not need to go looking for a spouse. God knows my address. He will ‘hook me up’ on His timing and in His way if that is what He has for my life. Am I willing to be content with His decision as to whether I will be married or not? Big question.
• Courtship may be an old-fashioned word but it is a God way of doing things. It means getting to know someone at His pace. It is going places and doing things that keep you as a couple away from situations that promote sexual intimacy and promiscuity. The love that God has planned for us is so much more than sex. God’s intimacy is the kind that lasts 60 years and is described as “better today than it was when we were dating”. It gets you through the great times, the crises, and, most importantly, the every day irritations and annoyances.
• God teaches me how to become better and disciplines me when I take my eyes off myself and start trying to change my spouse. Changing my spouse is God’s job and He does it perfectly if my part in it is centered on me.
• Jesus, the Son of God, washed His disciples feet. He washed Judas’ feet right along with Peter and John’s. He wants me to wash the feet of my spouse on the days he brings me flowers and on the days he forgets.
• And when (not if) the marriage hits bumpy, difficult times in the journey, you don’t cancel the ‘vacation’. You dig in and work together to make it through.

A wise person once illustrated marriage to me as a triangle. God is at the top point with my spouse and me at the two bottom angles. As we individually move closer (upward) in our relationship to God, the distance between the two of us decreases. And that is the final key piece, supporting and encouraging each other in our relationship with God. Not that our relationships will be the same. In fact, my husband, Henry, and I have very different ways of growing in our relationship with God. We recognize that and we encourage each other by respecting each other’s ways and time with God.

Marriage is a promise between three parties who have loving, compassionate hearts – not hard hearts. Hard hearts can be changed. Paul’s heart was. The sinful woman’s was. David’s was. Mine was. God does it. Jesus came to fulfill marriages that are more than we can imagine!

[Jesus said,]“You know the next commandment pretty well, too: ‘Don’t go to bed with another’s spouse.’ But don’t think you’ve preserved your virtue simply by staying out of bed. Your heart can be corrupted by lust even quicker than your body. Those leering looks you think nobody notices—they also corrupt.

Let’s not pretend this is easier than it really is. If you want to live a morally pure life, here’s what you have to do: You have to blind your right eye the moment you catch it in a lustful leer. You have to choose to live one-eyed or else be dumped on a moral trash pile. And you have to chop off your right hand the moment you notice it raised threateningly. Better a bloody stump than your entire being discarded for good in the dump.”      Matthew 5:27-30 (The Message)

Just in case I am unsure of the truth of this passage, this translation will fill in the gaps! It would be easy for me to say that lust is not a temptation for me and so cut this part of the Bible out because it does not pertain to me. I would be wrong and even a fool.

Paul states that ALL have sinned and are found wanting when next to the glory that is God (Romans 3:23). We all have weaknesses that allow temptation to slip in like slime that slides under a well-sealed door. Temptation can be rejected. We are not without avenues to escape it (1 Corinthians 10:12-13). However, it is wisdom for us to avoid temptation. Identify honestly the things that are a ‘hook’ – and run the other way. That isn’t being a coward. That is being smart!

I know a man who was addicted to drugs and alcohol as a teen. He gave his life to Jesus. He moved hundreds of miles away from his home. He moved to a place where he was not familiar with ways to connect with drug dealers. He avoided the easy temptations. He made a direction change.

I know a woman who never thought of herself as a drinker but when difficulties came into her life, she found herself drinking alcohol almost every day. When she began hiding it, she tried to tell herself that she was just trying not to influence her children. God began to speak to her. He told her quietly but firmly never to drink again. She decided based on her experience with God who had walked her through and never let her down – to believe Him. She has not had a drink of alcohol since. She made a direction change.

To make a direction change may be better known as repentance. Jesus said that we are to repent because His Kingdom is near (Matthew 4:17). He said it present tense. Now. Jesus is the Kingdom. It is time now to make a change, my friends. Let us allow God’s Spirit to ‘scan’ our lives and identify those areas of weakness where we are vulnerable. Let us make a turn and move away from places and persons who try to pull us toward temptation. Let us choose to be around people who build us up and encourage us closer to Jesus. And, yes, that means we will choose not to be around those who make us more comfortable in our old habits. Jesus tells us to amputate what causes us to sin. Those are harsh words. Sin is a harsh reality. As Joshua said, “Choose you this day who you will serve…as for me and my family— we are serving God” (Joshua 24:15).

[Jesus said,] “You know that our ancestors were told, “Do not murder” and “A murderer must be brought to trial.” But I promise you that if you are angry with someone, you will have to stand trial. If you call someone a fool, you will be taken to court. And if you say that someone is worthless, you will be in danger of the fires of hell. So if you are about to place your gift on the altar and remember that someone is angry with you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. Make peace with that person, then come back and offer your gift to God.

Before you are dragged into court, make friends with the person who has accused you of doing wrong. If you don’t, you will be handed over to the judge and then to the officer who will put you in jail. I promise you that you will not get out until you have paid the last cent you owe.”     Matthew 5:21-26 (CEV, my emphasis)

It is in passages like the ones we will be studying the rest of the week that I find myself smiling as I remember Thomas Jefferson. President Jefferson decided there were parts of the Bible that he found “irrelevant” and (in modern language) too weird. So he did a cut and paste on the pages and passages until he had what he called The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth.  Matthew 5 did get thrown out, by the way. It is fortunate for me that God wanted to make sure that I did not try to ignore the teachings in these passages because He allowed me experiences that taught me despite my stubbornness.

Jesus tells me that destroying someone physically is not the only way to destroy them. He wants me to understand the power of my tongue; that my words can be used for good or for evil. Jesus says there will be judgment of not only my actions but my thoughts and feelings. This is such an important point that if I hold anger against or speak disdain toward or even dismiss someone, I should not try to seek forgiveness and reconcile myself to Him.

No one who was in that church with me that Sunday morning more than 10 years ago will ever forget that service. Our church had been in an internal battle for several years. There were two sides in the congregation just as the sanctuary was divided by a center aisle. Our pastor had taught and prayed about reconciliation and unity in Jesus’ Body but, frankly, we weren’t hearing it. “Let them get a clue that we were right and they were wrong!” It was the first Sunday of the month and that meant communion. Our pastor started to pray, to begin the blessing, and he stopped. He said that we couldn’t come together in communion until we came together with forgiveness and were reconciled to each other. It would be hypocritical. No one moved. You could have heard a sin – I mean, pin, drop. Our pride was too strong. Our pastor covered up the communion elements and prayed for us. The service ended.

I am an RN. I worked in my profession for over 30 years. Like many, too many, nurses I have been sued for malpractice. A member of my church was having surgery and I worked in the recovery room. When asked, I agreed to care for them that day. Two years almost to the day, I was served with papers saying I was being sued by this person for malpractice. I had done nothing wrong but I was part of the care team and so I was caught in the legal net. It took three years, tons of paperwork, depositions and meetings before it was over. It took me another year after that for me to receive the grace that God wanted to give me so I could walk up to the person and tell them that I forgave them. I don’t think they felt they needed forgiveness but I needed to do it. I believe that is why I have peace today.

Jesus did not teach easy principles. He said, “Father, forgive them” so that I would know how to do it. He loved even me so I would know the extravagance of His love for everyone.