Philippians 3:3

Verse of the Day Devotion: Philippians 3:3   

“For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.” – Philippians 3:3

It is quite amazing to me how much truth is revealed to us by the Lord into one simple short Verse of Scripture.  Within the context of these words is hidden a reality that probably most sincere believers in Jesus’ deal with and maybe are not even aware of it.  Preceding this Verse, Paul warns the believers in Philippi to “…Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation!” (VS2).    Back then, just as today, there are more than enough ‘religious’ teachers and so-called ‘Christian teachers’ that are like spiritual watchdogs and actually evil in their work ‘in the name of Christ’ and they probably don’t even know it.   How can that be?  In a nutshell, within all their sincerity and conviction, I think they ‘add’ many things to the completed work of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection and promote those ‘works’ to be absolutely necessary in all regards towards a person, both in considering one’s salvation and in their being in right standing with God on a daily basis.  In very practical terms they just honestly do not believe that what Jesus did for us was enough. 

In the Philippians case, one of the sincere teachings they were hearing from the pulpit and within the larger circle of Christians was to ‘be physically circumcised’ if you REALLY want to be pleasing with God.   But this is not the truth.  “Indeed, I Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing” (Galatians 5:2).  These believers in Philippi were hearing from people within their own congregation the opposite of what Paul had taught them!  And those well-meaning law-abiding religious teachers were wrong.  Circumcision in Christ is of the heart, not of the flesh, and the surgery is done by Christ’s power – not yours.   In Christ, circumcision is a spiritual cutting-off of the power of the flesh nature.   Physical circumcision for a believer profit nothing at all to change a heart or have the possibility of being a ‘new creation’ in Christ.  If you are truly circumcised within your heart by the Lord, the next two statements in this Verse become a reality and a consistent desire within your life.  Be encouraged greatly by these two statements.

Number one, you will “…worship God in the Spirit…”.  Did you know that it is possible to try and worship God apart from the Spirit?   Unfortunately, I think we fall into this trap more often than admitted.  You sincerely just want to do better ‘next time’ and so you pull up your bootstraps and hunker down a little more and make a few more ‘I Promise’ statements to yourself.   I have fallen into this trap more than once, believe me. But folks, any attempt to being a worshipper of the Lord apart from the Spirit’s presence, leading, guiding, and prompting will be of the flesh.  “Are you foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?” (Galatians 3:3).   We do not have to walk in the Spirit – we GET to!    By God’s power in Christ and by His grace, we GET to and that is a cause for great rejoicing.  

Number two, you will “…rejoice in Christ Jesus…”.    Your times of rejoicing will not come about because of your successes compared to your failures throughout a day or week.  Your times of rejoicing will come about when you recognize that any and all of the good things that develop out of your life in Christ are BECAUSE of Christ.   Just because of Him.  Of Who He is.  You will rejoice within your heart in what He has already done for you in His completeness.   You are already spiritually blessed in Christ beyond calculation and imagination.   “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who HAS blessed us with EVERY spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ…” (Ephesians 1:3).  Yet thousands of well-intended Christians are seeking more spiritual blessings – from proclaimed Christian leaders leading the masses falsely saying you can have ‘more’.  Ummmm?  Yet, God in His Word has already told us that in Christ, the Father HAS (past tense) already blessed us with EVERY spiritual blessing!    Oh, how wonderful this is!   This is why Paul can say to the Philippians to rejoice in Christ Jesus.  You do not have to jump through additional religious hoops to attain God’s favor anymore!    Therefore, Paul instructs these Philippians in a very pointed, direct, profound, life-changing and universe-altering statement what they must be aware in their Christian walk: “….have no confidence in the flesh…”!    Do you hear that??   Do you ‘really’ hear that?   “BUT what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ” (Vs 7).   Doing religious (Christian religious) “things” in the flesh is simply loss.  The ‘more’ of whatever it is that you might be seeking is already in HIM.    Be encouraged and admonished.  Do NOT place any of your confidence in your flesh.   Place your confidence in the completely work of Christ that He has done for you already.    Be with Him.   Spend time with Him.  Talk with Him.   Listen to Him.         

Jaca Kier, Board Member, True Devotion Ministries, Inc. 

Titus 2:6

Verse of the Day Devotion: Titus 2:6 

“Likewise urge the young men to be sensible.” – Titus 2:6  

Paul is writing this letter directly to Titus, a gentile and disciple of his whom he led to Christ.  He was called into the ministry and worked closely with Paul, accompanying him with Barnabas from Antioch to Jerusalem.  Paul begins by telling Titus to speak and teach the truth.  “But as for you, speak the things which are fitting for sound doctrine.”  Titus 2:1. He was to instruct older men and women to be reverent in their behavior and not to be harsh in their speech nor enslaved to wine.  They we to be sensible and kind so that the word of God would not be dishonored.

Then Paul instructs Titus about the younger men.  “Likewise urge the young men to be sensible;” Titus 2:6. They are to be prudent in all things, taking control of their passions and desires.  This was an important lesson because, as gentiles, this was not the norm with either younger males or females.  And the idea was to show everyone how they could be an example of living life as they should.   They were to display a life of good deeds and purity.  He was to show them, via his own life, how they were to exhibit themselves.  This was essential to show the reality of how Titus’ ways were good and should be followed.  Paul goes on to say, “sound in speech which is beyond reproach, so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us.” Titus 2:8. Anything we say should be beyond reproach so that we will not be ashamed before those who we are training.  Thus, they will have nothing bad to say about us.  In so doing, they will have no reason to speak of any hypocrisy in us.

 Now, I am going to make this inclusive to all.  It is absolutely important that we, as Christians, teach sound doctrine to all we have the opportunity to instruct.  However, it is as important that our lives also instruct them, through being an example of the ways of righteousness.  We cannot say one thing and do another.  It is the sensible thing to do, as Paul lays out in our focus verse.  What we preach should be sound doctrine, that which the scriptures truly say, not what we want it to say.  And in teaching, we should show how it is to be lived out.  If we teach that our speech should be pure, then we should avoid speaking harshly or with filthy words and nasty meanings.  I have heard people who preach in church or teach in bible classes, and yet tell dirty jokes or use sexually explicit connotations.  This is essentially saying that these are acceptable as long as we are not preaching or teaching.  What does this tell the students or disciples?

James in his letter says the following.  “But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.” James 1:22-25.  James here is saying if we only listen to the word but do not live it out, we are simply deceiving ourselves.  This is, of course a dangerous position to be in.  However, it is worse if we only teach the word and do not live it out, for then we are possibly leading others astray.  Note this warning.  “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe to stumble, it would be better for him if, with a heavy millstone hung around his neck, he had been cast into the sea.” Mark 9:42. And I can say with much certainty this would not be a good thing.

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries. 

Mark 10:25

Verse of the Day Devotion: Mark 10:25  

“It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” – Mark 10:25

This verse comes after Jesus’ discussion with the rich young ruler: the last part being Jesus telling him to sell everything and follow Him.  “Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him and said to him, “One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.  But at these words he was saddened, and he went away grieving, for he was one who owned much property.” Mark 10:21-22.  After the young man left, Jesus said His disciples.  “How hard it will be for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!” Mark 10:23b.  Note, this is a statement, it is not a question.  Jesus then repeated His words, this time referring to His disciples as children, a term of affection regarding the disciples, after which he declares the statement which is our focus verse.  “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” Mark 10:25. 

The camel was the largest animal found in Palestine.  In this verse, Jesus compares the wealthy entering the kingdom of God to a camel going through the eye of a needle.  This idea has been interpreted in several ways.  One is that there was a gate in Jerusalem called “the eye of a needle” where the camel had to kneel to get through. Another is that because the Greek words for camel (kamelos)  and rope (kamilos) are very similar that rope was actually meant.  However, these false interpretations soften the seriousness that Jesus is trying to bring across. 

This idea of a camel going through the eye of a needle is a saying or proverb found in both Jewish and Aramaic thought.  To denote that something was impossible or outrageously  difficult, they said that a camel or an elephant might as soon walk through a needle’s eye.  What He was bringing out was that those who love his riches to the point they idolize them will find it impossible to enter the Kingdom of God. This was the situation with the  rich young ruler.  Jesus told him all that was left to follow Him was to give up his wealth by giving it to the poor, thus giving up that which he idolized.  However, he walked off because he valued his wealth over Christ.

So, is Jesus actually saying it is impossible for anyone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God?  In a sense, yes.  When Jesus stated the impossibility of the rich, the disciples were astonished, but without any words to say.  Therefore Jesus tells them the following, “With people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.” Mark 10:27b.  When we look at the rich young ruler, we see someone who was invited by Jesus to follow Him but declined because it would involve giving up more than he was willing to.  And just as he was offered, so is everyone who has ever lived.  Anyone can be saved by God’s grace; however this does not take away the responsibility we have to accept it.   And we must accept it on His terms. “Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” Matthew 16:24. 

In closing, without a desire to devote ourselves to God we will be swayed by what the world has to offer, for we can have that now.  Wealth and riches have a way of luring people to acquire and keep what they have, making it more important than anything else.  This is what Jesus was alluding to.  However, if anyone struggles with this, then we can go to God, asking Him to reveal the reality that God is so much greater and more desirable than anything else.  With man alone, it is impossible to give up everything for Christ.  But with Him He will help us put our priorities in order, that being God first, then everything else.  But only if it is what we truly desire.

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries. 

Proverbs 12:18

Verse of the Day Devotion: Proverbs 12:18  

“There is one who speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword, But the tongue of the wise brings healing.” – Proverbs 12:18  

Have you ever heard someone speak words that caused the recipient to feel terrible or embarrassed? Sometimes it is hard to determine why they hurt so much.  These words can be as sharp swords, cutting and wounding, dividing and killing.  They have been known to cause incredible hurt and damage to whom  they are spoken to as well as those who are intimately close to them.

So, what kind of words are alluded to?  Well first, they can be angry words like sharp rebukes.  Phrases like, “That was really stupid of you to do”  or “how could you be such an idiot” or “how could I have thought you could do this right”.  These are insulting to the person and does nothing to help any situation.  Then there are backbiters and gossipers.  These say similar things about the person, but to others with the one they are directed at are present or not.  Then there are those who present testimonies that are false and perjurious.  This causes others to assume guilt where no guilt exists.  This can have a serious and negative effect on them.  There are other examples, but the idea is that anything that produces a negative impact on someone, whether anyone else knows or not can cause harm.  David wrote of  this in the psalms during his issues with King Saul.  “My soul is among lions; I must lie among those who breathe forth fire, Even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows And their tongue a sharp sword.” Psalm 57:4.

I understand what this is like because I experienced these things throughout my childhood, both at home and in school.  My parents were extremely harsh in their dealings with us.  And at school, I found myself the brunt of everyone’s jokes.  However, my dad gave his life to Christ several years after I left to join the Air Force and when I visited after this event, he was a much different man.  He was much more loving and kind to everyone which ultimately made a difference in my mother as well.  But needless to say, I understand some of the damage that can occur because of the above.

However, the last part of this verse points out how we are to speak to others: using wisdom.  “But the tongue of the wise brings healing.”  Proverbs 12:18b.  The idea presented here is the sharp and insulting words spoken to others is not wise, but in the language used by Solomon throughout Proverbs, it is foolish. Wisdom is found in love, and in this verse’s context, loving people through kind and uplifting words.  “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” James 3:17-18. 

And finally, wisdom also calls for us to think of things that are positive and good.  “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.”  Philippians 4:8. By focusing on the positive and shunning the negative, by thinking of things that are good and Godly, we will be more inclined to treat people as we should, not with words that hurt like a sword in the flesh, but by encouragement and love that brings healing to whatever hurts they are enduring.  We must be wise in how we treat people, showing how much we care and love them, thus bringing healing rather than pain.  So much good will our results in the lives of those we treat as such.

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries. 

Acts 8:26

Verse of the Day Devotion: Acts 8:26

“But an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip saying, get up and go south to the road that descends from Jerusalem to Gaza.” –  Acts 8:26

Philip, after the incident in Samaria regarding Simon the magician, Philip is visited by an angel of the Lord who commanded him to go south on the road leading to Gaza.  He gave him no other information, just to go south.  Did he ask the angel why or what for?  Did he sit and think about it?  Here is Philip’s response to the angel.  “So he got up and went; and there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure; and he had come to Jerusalem to worship.” Acts 8:27.  He immediately got up from where he was and left. 

In the book of Isaiah, we see another similar event.  He is having a vision that God is showing him.  “In the year of King Uzziah’s death I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple.” Isaiah 6:1.  This is one of the most astonishing visions men have had as recorded in scriptures.  Because of this, he realized his sin as well as the sin of Israel and he humbly repented.  “Then I said, Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I live among a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.”  Isaiah 6:5.  Because of this repentance, God forgave him, after which God calls Isaiah to a task in the form of a question, upon which Isaiah answered immediately.  “Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I. Send me!” Isaiah 6:6:8. 

Both of these passages record the calling of God on the lives of believers.  In Acts 8, Philip is called to go south to speak with an Ethiopian eunuch about Christ, and In Isaiah 6, Isaiah is called to go to the people of Israel to declare their future due to the sins of Israel.  But there is one thing that links these two passages together.  That is neither questioned the calling, but immediately obeyed and followed.

Each one of the disciples whom Jesus called also left immediately when called.  This is an important idea to understand.  When God calls us to a particular task, we should immediately say, as Isaiah said. “Here am I, send me”.  Isaiah 6:8b.  And we should act as Philip did by not hesitating but respond at that time by obeying.  I see any calling of God as an incredible honor and privilege given to us.  And this from God who knows everything.  He knows the end from the beginning therefore He already knows what is necessary and who can fulfill it as He desires.  Therefore, if He calls us to do something, He both knows we are able to do it as He wants with the best outcome there is.  There may be times when we think we are not qualified or are unable because of the all the requirements.  I thought the same way at times.  But I have learned that He never calls us to do anything on our own.  “for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” Philippians 2:13.  We are never alone, for it says in His Word, “The LORD is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” Deuteronomy 31:8. 

We can trust God in everything.  He will never call us to anything we cannot accomplish, for He will be with us through the process.  Therefore, when He calls us to anything, do as Philip does and do not hesitate or question it, but realize you will be working with Him to accomplish something good, and say as Isaiah stated, “Here am I, send me”.

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries. 

Hebrews 4:15

Verse of the Day Devotion: Hebrews 4:15  

“For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.” – Hebrews 4:15 

Let us begin by putting this verse in the positive instead of the negative.   I do not think this will violate this verse but will perhaps bring more clarity.   “For we do have a High Priest who can sympathize with our weaknesses, since He was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.’   This book of Hebrews was written specifically to possibly two camps of Jews in my opinion.  First of all it was written to a Jew that was on the fence concerning Jesus Christ being THE Messiah (Priest, King, and Prophet) as foretold in the Old Testament writings.  They were fully Jewish in the sense that they obeyed and followed the Law of Moses but would not cross over into faith in Jesus the Christ.  The second possible group of Jews reading this could have been Jews that did embrace and believe that Jesus was the Messiah (Priest, King, and Prophet) but due to extreme persecution perhaps, they wanted to revert backwards to outwardly embrace the religion of Judaism and its governing laws and requirements so as to escape persecution and/or death.  

Today, in this age of Grace, the meaning of this verse has great significance, assurance, and promise for both Jew and Gentile.  The role of the High Priest functioned in the tabernacle or Temple as the go-between of a Holy God and a sinful people.  Aaron, the older brother of Moses, was the first High Priest to have this role in serving God in the tabernacle (Exodus 28, 29).  Therefore beginning with Aaron as the High Priest he would enter the Holiest of Holies on the Day of Atonement once a year and sprinkle sacrificial animal blood on the Mercy Seat and the peoples’ sins would be covered for another year.  And every year following this would take place.  But Jesus was not a descendant of Levi nor a descendant of Aaron’s priesthood.  Jesus was the great High Priest after the order of Melchizedek, the priest of the God Most High (Genesis 14:18) who represented all of mankind.  And by Jesus’ own sacrificial blood shed on the Cross was atonement made for all mankind and He entered not the earthly tabernacle but the Heavenly tabernacle and presence of God as the great High Priest and the only go-between for God and Man.   After His resurrection, Jesus the Son of God passed through the heavens as the great High Priest and is sitting at the Right hand of the Father (Heb 4:14). 

Jesus being fully God and fully man (“For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily…” Col 2:9), is therefore able to sympathize with our weaknesses.   The word ‘sympathize’ in the Greek means to ‘have sympathy, compassion, and pity for someone – to share the feelings and understand the sentiments of what a person is going through’.    Wow!  May that alone bring you comfort in your understanding of how Jesus personally views you and the struggles you face each day in this fallen world.  To further the point, Jesus as the great High Priest sympathizes with our weaknesses.  With ‘our’ weaknesses.  We all have them.  We are all in the same boat when it comes to having weaknesses.   No matter how lovely or holy someone you know appears to be, underneath the surface they struggle just like you do.   This word ‘weaknesses’ is a Greek word that is much broader than our understanding of being weak, as opposed to strong. It is the ‘incapacity or sickness or disease within, that prevents us from doing what we desire’.  Romans 16:9a says, “I speak in human terms because of the ‘weakness’ (the incapacity to do what is right) of your flesh’.   This same Greek word is also translated as ‘infirmities’ twelve times, primarily speaking of the physical weakness, sickness, disease, and incapacity we might have.   John 5:5 says “Now a certain man who was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years…”  Jesus told this man with this physical infirmity to ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk.’   Paul writes in II Cor 12:10 “Therefore I take pleasure in my infirmities…..for Christ’s sake.  For when I am weak, then I am strong.”  

Take pleasure in our infirmities?   Wait a second.   This must be a misprint.  No, it is not.   Paul understood the reality of Jesus as the great High Priest who is sitting at the Right hand of the Father at this very moment (Heb 8:1).  Paul understood that Jesus does accurately sympathize with our weaknesses and infirmities as human beings and our daily struggles of temptation because Jesus Himself lived on this earth with a complete human nature just like yours, yet without that human nature being diseased by sin.  In every way, Jesus’ humanity correlates to our own experiences.    YOU are not alone.  As a believer, be reminded of this amazing truth of our Lord and Savior.  HE is the great High Priest sitting next to God the Father.  He knows and understands everything you go though. Because of His compassion, mercy, and grace, you can tap into His grace to help in time of need.     What a glorious High Priest and Savior we have!

Jaca Kier, Board Member, True Devotion Ministries, Inc. 

1 Peter 1:15

Verse of the Day Devotion: 1 Peter 1:15

“But like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior.” – 1 Peter 1:15

Peter, in our focus verse, is calling all God’s people to be Holy.  This is a calling that God has placed on everyone who is to follow Him.  In Leviticus we read, “For I am the LORD your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy. And you shall not make yourselves unclean with any of the swarming things that swarm on the earth. For I am the LORD who brought you up from the land of Egypt to be your God; thus you shall be holy, for I am holy.” Leviticus 11:44-45.  Also, “Thus you are to be holy to Me, for I the LORD am holy; and I have set you apart from the peoples to be Mine” Leviticus 20:26.  And in Deuteronomy.  “Since the LORD your God walks in the midst of your camp to deliver you and to defeat your enemies before you, therefore your camp must be holy; and He must not see anything indecent among you or He will turn away from you.” Deuteronomy 23:14.  In all three of these, God is calling the Jewish nation to be Holy as He is. 

And now, we as Christians are called to be holy as well.  The writer of Hebrews put it this way.  “Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:14.  We are called by God to live a holy and sanctified life.  Paul, in his second letter to the Church at  Corinth, wrote the following.  “Therefore, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE,” says the Lord. “And do not touch what is unclean; And I will welcome you. And I will be a father to you, And you shall be sons and daughters to Me,” Says the Lord Almighty. ” 2 Corinthians 6:17-18.  Paul is saying that God has called us out of the world, out of our previous life apart from God.  And when we do this, He shall be our father and we shall be His sons and daughters.  These are promises God has given us.  And next comes the “Therefore”.  “Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” 2 Corinthians 7:1. 

As Christians, we are to strive with all we are to live a life of holiness.  We are to dedicate our life completely and totally to God, honoring Him in everything we do.  Holiness means to separate.  We need to separate from our old life and ways, our thoughts and desires.  How can we do this?  First, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2.  We need to become less like the world and focus on God and His ways.  Second, “Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.” 2 Timothy 2:22.  We must not give in to evil desires but pursue righteousness in all ways.  And third, as our focus verse states with the requirements of the above two, “but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior.” 1 Peter 1:15.  In all our ways, we should pursue the first and second items with all we are.

Paul in his letter to the Church in Ephesus wrote, “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children;”  Ephesians 5:1.  God is holy, and He wants us to be holy as well, and this should be the focus of our life.  Let us strive in all we do to live a sanctified life to the glory of God.  For, it is what He desires of us.

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries. 

James 4:1

Verse of the Day Devotion: James 4:1

“What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members?” –  James 4:1

James in this section of his letter asks an important question that people have struggled with throughout history.  Why do you quarrel with each other?  I suspect this question was not asked out of the blue, but probably because they were actually arguing amongst themselves.  He could have come right out and told them what the answer was, but he chose to answer the question with a rhetorical question which would grab the attention of his readers.  He said to them, do they not come from within yourselves?  Do they not come from your inward desires?  And do not these desires and pleasure wage war among your members?

Now, are these pleasures at war within our own bodies as individuals or within the body of believers?  I am sure it is within the body of believers because of the first part of the verse.  “What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you?” James 4:1a.  Many believe that it is the battle of temptation within us, which may be the source of our desires.  However, the quarrels are referring to among the brethren where one person believes one thing and another believes something else.  Or one feels they should do option A and another wants option B.  And when both sides desire their own way over the others, with no desire to acquiesce even a little, then quarrels arise.  The general problem here was that they all wanted what THEY wanted.  It did not matter what someone else wanted, or what the other felt inside.  They were more interested in pleasing themselves rather than others. 

This is something we see in the corporate world.  I remember several instances when, at my last contract position in Indiana, we would meet up and discuss current projects.  What started off as just telling everyone where we were at on projects, ended up with everyone talking about how they were right and everyone else was wrong.  They were attempting to show how they should be candidates for promotions over everyone else.  Unfortunately, Christians many times have adopted similar views.  I have been in many a meeting where arguments start when people start pushing their ideas about how things should be done, with various positions being taken.  And each believed their idea was the only one that made sense. 

It is sad to see this occur among Christian brothers and sisters because most of the time each is arguing their position because they want theirs to be accepted so they can look good to the others.  However, all we do should be for the betterment of all, not just ourselves.  Look back to our focus verse.  “What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members?” James 4:1.  In the church as well as everywhere else, quarrels and conflicts come when we look to please ourselves at the expense of another.  Paul put it best when he wrote, “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.” Philippians 2:3-4.  This should always be our focus.  We can present our ideas, but we should never argue and quarrel about them.  And if we find ourselves in a position where a conflict is forming, we need to stop and pray for God’s guidance.  Then, start the conversation again but remembering Philippians 2:3-4 above.  We must stay at peace no matter what.  This is what God wants, and is this not what we should want and work toward as well?

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries. 

John 14:1

Verse of the Day Devotion: John 14:1

“Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.” – John 14:1

Just before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus knew His time to leave was coming.  “Now before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus knowing that His hour had come that He would depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.” John 13:1.  And because of this, He was preparing them for His departure.  Therefore, after Judas left to betray Jesus, He lets the remaining eleven know.  “Little children, I am with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.” John 13:33.  This was very difficult for the disciples to accept.  Think about this, for the past three years He had spent almost all His time working with the disciples training them for the work He was calling them to, which was making disciples of all nations.

But Peter was confused.  “Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, where are You going?” Jesus answered, “Where I go, you cannot follow Me now; but you will follow later. Peter said to Him, “Lord, why can I not follow You right now? I will lay down my life for You.” John 13:36-37.  He first asks Jesus where He was  going, and after receiving the answer He follows up with another.  “Lord, why can I not follow You right now? I will lay down my life for You.” John 13:38. Peter asks Jesus if he could go along.  Notice it was can I follow and  not can we follow.  He was obviously asking this in an impetuous manner, not thinking about it before asking.  However, Jesus follows this with a question.  “Will you lay down your life for Me? Truly, truly, I say to you, a rooster will not crow until you deny Me three times.”  John 13:38. 

Jesus understood this conversation left them unsettled.  They obviously did not like what they heard.  But Jesus, seeing this is the case, said the following. “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.” John 14:1.  However, Jesus does not stop there.  “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.  If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.”  John 14:2-3.  He lets them know that He will be going away and they cannot immediately follow.  However, He adds that one day He will come back and bring them to where He resides. 

I know for myself that there are times I wonder why things have to be the way they are, just as the disciples did when they were told this good friend and teacher was going away and they could not follow.  And I feel confident that many times you also have experienced these times as well.  Ours is a little different in that Jesus is not physically here as He was with the disciples.  However, this does not negate the fact that His response to them is the same for us.  We should not let our hearts be troubled by the many things that we encounter, for our time here is just as temporary as theirs.  Jesus told them that He would come again and take them with Him, so that where He is they will be also.  And this promise applies to us as well.  In fact, it applies to all who have given their lives completely to Christ and have accepted the work He did on the cross.  This is the future for all Christians, eternity with Christ.  Remember this when difficulties come, that not only is He here to help us through these difficult times but when our time here is over He will take us home to be with Him forever.

So, as Jesus told His disciples, do not let your heart be troubled.  Believe in Him and be comforted with the fact that He will always be with us, both here and in heaven, our eternal home.  He is coming back.  Let you mind and heart always focus on this.

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries. 

1 Peter 5:6

Verse of the Day Devotion: 1 Peter 5:6

“Therefore. humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time.” – 1 Peter 5:6

Our focus verse for today tells us that we should be humble before God.  In fact, he uses a very specific phrase that gives a fuller picture of what is meant: “under the mighty hand of God”.  This phrase often speaks of being under the punishment of God.  However, the meaning here speaks of a much more positive idea.  This is to be understood in a more humble manner, that He provides a safe and profitable path, being hid as in the hollow of His hand as we fulfill His will.

However, the general idea is that when we do the work of God, that we do it in humility knowing that God is working through us, and that we are not to lift ourselves up in a prideful way.  Solomon puts it this way, “The fear of the LORD is the instruction for wisdom, And before honor comes humility.” Proverbs 15:33.  Before we are honored, we should submit to God in humility.  Adam Clarke in his commentary on Proverbs says, “few persons ever arrive at honor who are not humble; and those who from low life have risen to places of trust and confidence, have been remarkable for humility.”  Micah also has something to say about humility.  “He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?” Micah 6:8.

Now, back to 1 Peter 5.  In verse five we read, “You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” 1 Peter 5:5.  This verse comes from Proverbs 3:34, “Though He scoffs at the scoffers, Yet He gives grace to the afflicted.” and is also referred to in James 4:6. It basically says that God resists the proud, those who place more emphasis and priority on what they do, rather than in what God is doing through them. And by being humble, we can anticipate a future exaltation.  “that He may exalt you at the proper time.” 1 Peter 5:6b.  Now, we do not know whether it will come in this life or the next, however, what God promises He will always do.

It is important that we always go before God in humility, understanding that He is our loving and merciful God.  And we must always, in all humility, do the work of God in a manner that does not exalt ourselves but recognizes that God is doing the work through us.  “So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”  Philippians 2:12-13.  He does the work; we are the vessel He uses to accomplish His will.  Therefore, we should not focus on ourselves as we do what God has called us to but focus on the one who called us and is working through us.  In regards to myself, I am humbled that God chooses to use me at all, when I look back on my life prior to being saved.  However, I am extremely thankful that He does.  I pray that you who are reading this will see your calling and work in the same way.   

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries.