One Year Book of Devotions for Men Part 4

There was no trace of haughtiness in Mary. Her only claim to fame was that the Lord had aexalted the lowlya (1:52). Mary had no room for self-congratulation, because she knew that the Lord ascatters the proud and haughty onesa (1:51). She had no reservation in praising the Holy One and no desire to see herself other than as a blessed lowly one.

How sobering it is to realize that the Lord takes notice of the alowlya and that it is the ahungrya who are satisfied with good things from his hand. How sad it is to think that the Lord will send aaway with empty handsa many of todayas aricha (1:53). Better to be a lowly one before the Holy One!

January 27

TO READ: Luke 1:57-66

Family Pressure

He motioned for a writing tablet, and to everyoneas surprise he wrote, aHis name is John!a Luke 1:63

On Thanksgiving Day, 1999, the crew of a Florida fishing boat plucked 6-year-old Elian Gonzalez from the Atlantic Ocean. The Cuban child was lashed to an inner tube on which he had floated for two days. The small boat in which he and thirteen other people were trying to escape from Cuba had capsized, and Elianas mother and ten others had perished in the ocean. Once on dry land and cared for by relatives in Miami, Elianas problems seemed to be over. But he soon became the key person in a ma.s.sive tug-of-war that started between his father, who wanted him returned to him in Cuba, and his Cuban-American family members in Florida, who insisted that, as his mother obviously had wished him to live in America, he should be allowed to stay. Elianas welfare sparked an international incident. Presidents became involved, flag-waving patriots demonstrated, politicians postured, and Elian learned how to wear a baseball cap backwards. Fortunately, not all family disagreements reach such proportions!

Centuries-old tradition required that Zechariah and Elizabethas newborn son should be circ.u.mcised as evidence that he had been introduced into the privileges and responsibilities of G.o.das covenant with his people, and the family happily gathered to witness the event (Luke 1:59). But trouble started when the topic of the boyas name was introduced. The family insisted that he should be named after his father, Zechariah, who unfortunately had lost his voice during the spiritual encounter in which the announcement of the boyas birth was made (1:8-20).

To everyoneas surprise, Elizabeth insisted that the boy should be called John, and his father wrote his agreement on a tablet (1:63). And so it was, for this is what the angelic messenger had instructed (1:13).

John means aG.o.d has shown favor.a The significance of the unusual name, the remarkable circ.u.mstances of Johnas birth, and the instantaneous recovery of his fatheras voice were not lost on the family. They recognized something big was in the air, and so they asked, aI wonder what this child will turn out to be?a (1:66). What John turned out to be is history, but his parentsa courage and commitment to follow divine instructions played a major role in Johnas development.

Parents should never underestimate the importance of their obedience to the Lord in the training and development of their children. Sometimes this requires taking a stand even against loved ones. What matters in the long term is not keeping the family happy but ensuring that the child knows that athe hand of the Lord is surely upon hima (1:66).

January 28

TO READ: Luke 1:67-80

Father and Son

aAnd you, my little son, will be called the prophet of the Most High, because you will prepare the way for the Lord. You will tell his people how to find salvation through forgiveness of their sins.a Luke 1:76-77

Stock car racing is one of the major spectator sports in America. But it was born in the days of Prohibition, when the bootleggers, in order to deliver their illicit liquor to the speakeasies, asouped upa the engines of their cars so that they could outrun the police. When the need for such vehicles vanished with the repeal of Prohibition in 1933, the hot rods were raced on the sands of Florida, and eventually NASCAR was born. Some of todayas superstar racers are the grandsons of the drivers who outran the police years ago. Paternal influence is more significant than we sometimes realize.

Wise fathers believe that the Lord has a plan for their boys and that their parental role is to help the boys discover and do it. This was Zechariahas approach to his alittle sona John. Speaking under the prompting of the Holy Spirit, Zechariah prophesied that John would aprepare the way for the Lorda and atell his people how to find salvation through the forgiveness of their sinsa (Luke 1:76-77). He saw the role that John was to play as only one part of a colossal plan that was born in the days of Abraham (1:73). This plan could only be described adequately as athe light from heaven is about to break upon usa (1:78).

If a father believes that his parental role has been fulfilled once he provides a roof over the childas head, puts food in his stomach, and gets him through school while watching most of his ball games, that father should reconsider. The child, from the divine perspective, is part of a grand plan in which the father has an important role. A fatheras life is to be lived with due consideration being given not only to temporal and material dimensions of human existence, but also to eternal and spiritual aspects, which not only serve to form the character of the young person but also make an impact on others for their eternal good.

Clearly, not everybody is a John and not every father has Zechariahas prophetic gift. But by the same token, no son is purely a creature of time and s.p.a.ce, and no father is only a provider of material substance. Fathers are called to be involved in the lives of their children, to abring them up with the discipline and instruction approved by the Lorda (Eph. 6:4). This may not mean putting them behind the wheel of a very fast NASCAR race car, but it will involve putting them on the road to a very full life.

January 29

TO READ: Psalm 89

The Throne

aI will establish your descendants as kings forever; they will sit on your throne from now until eternity.a Psalm 89:4

In the year 1215, King John of England traveled outside London to Runnymede, on the banks of the River Thames, and signed the Magna Carta. He had to! His barons had told him that if he did not sign, he would be in big trouble. They were tired of his heavy taxes, his ineffective leadership, and his less than spectacular rule. So they forced him to sign. In doing so, King John severely curtailed the traditional powers of the monarchy. Many people date monarchical decline from 1215.

Political systems now favor democracies over monarchies. Given the abuses of power by the latter, there is much to be said for the former. But as thrones and empires have been toppled, respect for the majestic has all but disappeared. This may not be politically significant, but it does have spiritual implications.

In the days of the Old Testament, kings were anointed by prophets and the trappings of their reign and the splendor of their person were often seen as reflections of the glory of the Lord. Even the extravagance of their palaces, their vestments, and their inordinate wealth were regarded as evidence of divine favor. The queen of Sheba was overwhelmed by Solomonas splendor. He had built for himself aa huge ivory throne and overlaid it with pure gold. . . . No other throne in all the world could be compared with ita (2 Chron. 9:17-19). From this splendid platform, Solomon ruled his vast empire. He was powerful, splendid, and majestic.

Solomonas reign, part of Davidas dynasty, came to an end. His throne is lost, and his empire has long been divided. But G.o.das throne is afounded on two strong pillarsa"righteousness and justicea (Ps. 89:14), and he promised King David, aI will establish your descendants as kings forever; they will sit on your throne from now until eternitya (89:4).

When Davidas dynasty collapsed, was the promise rendered null and void? Not at all! Hundreds of years later, a humble girl in Nazareth was told by an angel, aYou will become pregnant and have a son, and you are to name him Jesus. . . . The Lord G.o.d will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!a (Luke 1:31-33). One day, Maryas son Jesus will sit on his everlasting throne in his eternal kingdom. Unlike Solomonas throne, we do not know what Jesusa throne is made ofa"but we do know that it is majestic! Even more important, though, is the one sitting on the thronea"he will be the focus of attention! He will be marvelous, majestic, and magnificent. And we will be overwhelmed with the glory and the majesty (see Rev. 4).

January 30

TO READ: Luke 2:1-20

Sit and Think

But Mary quietly treasured these things in her heart and thought about them often.

Luke 2:19

A farmeras wife, concerned about the young man who worked out in the fields, asked him, aWhat do you do in your spare time, John?a He thought for a moment and replied, aSometimes I sits and thinks, and other times I just sits!a This incident occurred long before the advent of television. Had the young man lived in the television age, he might have become an accomplished acouch potato.a Few things in the modern world are more effectively designed than the TV to pa.s.s the time without the achievement of anything while cramming the mind with emptiness.

But there is a place for quietness. Silence and solitude are great blessings to the over-wrought human soul. And they are rare commodities! Blaise Pascal, the brilliant French scientist and philosopher, observed, aI have discovered that all the unhappiness of men arises from one single fact, that they cannot stay quietly in their own chamber.a6 Mary, however, knew how to stay quietly in her own room. She and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem for the census that Caesar had ordered. So did everybody else whose family came from that town. As a result, there was no room in the inn, so Joseph and Mary camped out in a stable. There she gave birth to a boy and was visited by a group of rowdy shepherds who brought stories of vast angelic choirs in the vicinity. The story attracted great attention from the crowds in Bethlehem, and all the people were astonished. The town was in a state of excitement and wonder. Yet Mary found silence and solitude. She aquietly treasured these things in her heart and thought about them oftena (Luke 2:19).

Blaise Pascal would have approved. And no doubt the Lord did, too. Mary was probably limited in what she could do by her new duties as a mother and by the aftermath of the birth. But she could have just sat therea"staring, dazed and blanka"her mind crammed with emptiness. She resisted that impulse. Mary didnat just sita"she sat and thought!

And what momentous topics filled her heart! The shepherds had given her all the details and these she aquietly treasured.a She treasured thoughts about the child, the angels, the Messiah, the Lord, peace on earth, the favor of G.o.d (vv. 11-14), and her own role in these momentous events.

Thereas a place for silence and solitude. Search for it. When you find it, donat just sita"sit and think. Think about such things as Mary thought. Youall find treasures for your heart.

January 31

TO READ: Hebrews 2:5-15

A Perfect Leader

It was only right that G.o.da"who made everything and for whom everything was madea"should bring his many children into glory. Through the suffering of Jesus, G.o.d made him a perfect leader, one fit to bring them into their salvation.

Hebrews 2:10

After n.a.z.i Germany surrendered in 1945, the war in Europe came to an end amid scenes of well-earned jubilation. Shortly thereafter, a general election was held in the United Kingdom. Winston Churchill and his Conservative party were roundly defeated in that electiona"Churchill was ousted from office. Given his exemplary leadership during the war, Churchillas defeat was a stunning reversal. Many in the British electorate had been swayed by a cartoon in one of the major newspapers which showed a pistol with a finger on the trigger and the caption, aWhose finger on the trigger?a The unmistakable inference people drew was that Churchill was a great wartime leader but he could not lead in peace-time. The man in the street was saying, aDonat put Winnie back in power. Heall get us into another war.a He was seen as the perfect leader for war but not for peace. They may have been right, because the demands on a leader vary according to circ.u.mstances. A lot depends on who is being led and what they are being led into.

aG.o.da"who made everything and for whom everything was madea"a saw his creation ruined by the Fall (see Gen. 3). He determined, nevertheless, that he should abring his many children into glorya (Heb. 2:10). Doing so involved dealing with their sin, defeating the awesome power of the devil, and leading people into eternal salvation. For that, aa perfect leadera was needed.

For these objectives to be achieved, a perfect sacrifice for sins had to be made. So a leader without blemish, with all the necessary attributes of leadership, who was willing to suffer death for us (2:9), had to be found. Jesus, the perfect Son of G.o.d, was the one. It was necessary that he abecame flesh and blood by being born in human form. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the Devil who had the power of deatha (2:14). This is why Jesus was born. aOnly in this way could he deliver those who have lived all their lives as slaves to the fear of dyinga (2:15).

Churchill was regarded by many as a perfect leader for wartime but not for times of peace. But Jesus was a perfect leader for all time. He was the right leader for the greatest of all wars, fought and won at the Cross. And he is certainly the only one who can lead people into the eternal peace that comes through being rescued from the fear of death. Jesus is the perfect leader. Follow him!

February 1

TO READ: 1 John 1:1-4

Testifying to the Truth

The one who existed from the beginning is the one we have heard and seen. We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands. He is Jesus Christ, the Word of life.

1 John 1:1

When Marlon Brando, the renowned actor, was called as a witness in the murder trial of his son, Christian, he refused to take the oath promising to atell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help me G.o.d.a Citing religious scruples (or the lack thereof!), Brando refused to call on G.o.d as a witness that he was telling the truth. He was allowed to promise without swearing an oath, and he took the witness stand to testify to what he had seen and heard.

When religious sensitivities were more sharply focused than they are today, the very thought of swearing on oath invoking G.o.das judgment was enough to ensure that the witness would not lie. For many people those days are long gone, but the person who lies on the witness stand is still committing perjury and is still subject to prosecution.

Johnas first epistle opens with a statement of personal testimony. True, John swore no oath. But given the seriousness of the statement being made, the purpose for which it was given, and the churchwide credibility of the witness, there can be no doubt that this is a piece of evidence concerning Jesus Christ that is of the first magnitude.

There is no hearsay here. Concerning Jesus, John said, aWe saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own handsa (1 John 1:1). It was common knowledge among believers that John and his colleagues had lived in close proximity to Jesus during his ministry. On the basis of his personal experience, John testified without hesitation that Jesusa life was so exemplary, his works so miraculous, his words so powerful, and his teaching so life-changing that John had no doubts that Jesus was athe one who existed from the beginning . . . the Word of Life . . . the one who is eternal lifea (1:1-2). John had been a witness to Jesusa death on the cross, Jesusa appearances after his resurrection, and Jesusa ascent into heaven. There was not a doubt in Johnas minda"he had seen it, heard it, felt it, and lived in the good of it. So he testified.

Johnas goal in testifying was athat you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christa (1:3). John not only wanted his readers to believe as he did, but he also longed for them to enjoy Jesus as he had. This would make his joy acomplete.a Sharing truth is a joy, and experiencing reality is a delight.

February 2

TO READ: 1 John 2:1-6

Cheap Grace

My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if you do sin, there is someone to plead for you before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who pleases G.o.d completely.

1 John 2:1

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a young Lutheran pastor in Germany before World War II, fiercely opposed the policies of the n.a.z.is out of profound Christian conviction. Because of this, he was captured by the Gestapo, imprisoned, and eventually executed in April, 1945, shortly before the prison camp where he was held (Flossenburg) was liberated by the Allied forces. He died a martyr.

In his well-known book The Cost of Discipleship, Bonhoeffer deplored what he termed acheap grace.a He defined acheap gracea as athe preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession, absolution without personal confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.a7 Bonhoeffer recognized this as an abuse of the biblical doctrine of gracea"that most wonderful truth that G.o.d, out of a heart of love, reaches out to lost and sinful people, favors them in ways that they do not deserve, and grants them blessings that they could never earn. Bonhoefferas concern about cheap grace was right on target, and he lived and died in accordance with his convictions.

The apostle John expressed similar concerns when he wrote, aI am writing this to you so that you will not sina (1 John 2:1). John was not promoting sinless perfectiona"he immediately added, aBut if you do sin, there is someone to plead for you before the Father.a John wanted to remind believers that their sins are not forgiven in order that they may casually and contentedly continue in them. He wanted them to experience the freedom of victory over the sins that had formerly held them captive.