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“Love the Lord your God with ALL your heart and with ALL your soul and with ALL your strength”  (Deuteronomy 6:5).

“She only married him for his money.”

“I hope your wife can cook and likes to clean.”

“I couldn’t marry him because he didn’t wear the right clothes.”

We hear these sentiments all the time; we think these sentiments all the time.  What has happened to valuing someone for who they are instead of what we can get from them?

I think that we walk a fine line in our relationship with our Master.  It seems as though many people pray because they want something from God. However, we are missing the relationship part.  We need to love God because of who he is.  We need to love God because he is our ALMIGHTY Savior, he is our Redeemer and Friend.  Not because we want something and we think the way to achieve that is through God.

Why do you pray, read your Bible, go to church?  What is your motivation? Like I said, it is a fine line.  Be careful that you are on the relationship side, not on the other side.

My kids love on me SOOO much when they want something.  They draw me pictures, they snuggle up to me, they say and do sweet things.  As soon as I grant them whatever it is they want, they all of sudden forget my name!  Do you do this with God?  The interesting thing is, what He asks of us is our love.  What I ask of my children is their love.  I know that if they love me then they will do the other things that I ask of them to do.  Love is the best motivator.

Questions: Are you in love with God? What motivates you read your Bible or go to church?

Do you need to talk to someone? We are here to listen.

“As He was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met Him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”

When He saw them, He said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed. One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then He said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well” (Luke 17:12-19).

My wife arrived home with flowers more beautiful than any I had ever given her. A dozen roses: pink, white, yellow, red, orange. They burst from the vase amid baby’s breath and leafy filler. And she wore a smile that told me she felt appreciated.

My wife is a career counselor and coach.  She helps people figure out why they can’t get employment or keep it. Each month she sees a dozen clients pass her way who struggle with issues related to work and home. Some lack schooling. Others perseverance. Still others carry deep wounds from hurtful pasts that make them seethe with anger—and it shows. For many their hurts act like leprosy, gnawing away at their vocational potential.

By the time clients leave the course they have picked up important insights into their personalities, how they manage time (or not), how they handle conflict (or don’t), as well as interview and resume-writing skills. During the program some people huff and gruff and argue “I know all this,” or “The problem isn’t me; it’s been my four bosses!” and they leave largely unchanged. Others show a more humble posture, listening, learning, soaking it in.

One attentive client was Nadia, and within a few weeks of finishing the program, she landed her dream job as office administrator and bookkeeper for a small construction firm. Days later she returned with the roses as a thank you. My wife will see a hundred clients a year, but only a handful return to say thanks. Like the nine lepers who were healed, the other ninety-some are busy about their lives, forgetting whom they might thank.

It really doesn’t matter who we are or what we’ve accomplished, we’re all lepers in some way. And along our journey others have helped. A teacher, a coach, a parent, a friend. May we be thankful for those who have invested in us, and let them know about it.

Question: Who has touched you? Who might you hand a dozen roses?

God knows…God Cares…God loves You…There is hope. Someone is waiting to talk with you now.

“And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments and statutes of the LORD, which I am commanding you today for your good” (Deuteronomy10:12-13).

What are we to do as God’s children? Moses told them quite plainly. Fear (honor, awe) God, walk in His ways, love Him and serve Him. To do that takes three things. It takes keeping God’s commandments and doing it all from the depth of your heart and also with all your soul.  The Prophet Micah’s book in the Old Testament has similar threefold list—Act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with your God. Three steps. All have to do with how we walk with God.

In Deuteronomy, Moses warns the people to “walk in His ways” several times. Leviticus 26:12 has God saying He will walk among the Hebrews and they will be His people. The prophets warned the people to once again walk with God, and Paul stressed that since we now are His temple, we must walk in His ways. What does it mean to walk with God, or to walk in His ways?

Think of two people in an intimate relationship. They walk side by side, matching each other’s steps almost subconsciously because being close is what is of the utmost importance. They are not in a rush. They are enjoying each other’s company too much. Chatting, whispering and even laughing as they stroll. Cares disappear. All they see is each other.

Or picture a child with their parent. The parent holds tight to the child’s hand so the child doesn’t dash off into danger. The parent may try to match their giant steps to the child’s, but if that can’t happen or the way becomes too arduous, the parent hoists the child up and carries them through crowds, around obstacles and over cracks in the pavement that might have caused the child to stumble.

Now consider a man walking his obedient dog on a leash. He gives the dog some freedom, but the dog is well trained. He knows staying by his master is the safe thing to do. If the master tugs on the leash, the dog obeys, changes direction and goes where the master tells him to go.

Do any of those three ways describe your walk with God? Perhaps, depending on the circumstance, all three have. They have for me. There have also been times I have been a disobedient dog, yanked away the leash and ran off on my own. As a child, I have slipped from God’s grip only to get temporarily lost in the crowds. At times, my intimate relationship with God ends in a quarrel and I stomp off. But, each time, He finds me, forgives me and once again I get back in sync with His steps. All is right again.

Questions: Where are you in your walk with the Lord? Are you serving Him, loving Him and trusting in Him, or are you dashing off on your own?

Are you confused and not sure what to do or where to turn? Would you like us to pray for you?

“I will walk in my house with blameless heart. I will set before my eyes no vile thing” (Psalm 101:3, NIV).

This passage recalls to mind several adages from my youth. Charity begins at home. Cleanup your own backyard first. It is what you do and say behind closed doors that reveals your character.

All of these are true. What we practice away from the world defines how we will act and react in the world.  It is our responsibility to teach our children Our Lord’s truths and His Word.  It is also our responsibility to be an example to them. If we do not read the Bible, pray and practice the fruits of the Spirit in the privacy of our homes, how can we expect our children to learn to live that way?  Telling them to do as you say and not as you do never works, does it?

Even after the kids are long gone are we still responsible for acting the way we should in our homes. We should act as if Jesus was right there, because, guess what? He is. 24/7, 365 days a year.  Unless we practice being Christ-like in the safety of our homes, even though no one else is around to observe it, it will not become a deeply imbedded way of thinking and doing. How can Christ truly dwell in us if He does not dwell with us?

David knew this. Of course his house was much bigger- it was the whole of Israel. Still, it is a great Psalm to take to heart and remind ourselves that being a Christian is an ongoing thing, not just the way we act in public. To be otherwise is two-faced and deceptive. And we cannot serve two Masters, can we?

Ask yourself, who is Master in my house? Then take to heart what Joshua said to the tribes as they entered the Promised Land when he proclaimed that he and his house would serve the Lord. And each day, vow to keep the promise that David made in his Psalms: “No one who practices deceit will dwell in my house, no one who speaks falsely will stand in my presence. Every morning I will put to silence all the wicked…”  (Psalm 101: 7- 8a, NIV).

Questions: What things do you need to “put to silence” today?  What’s in your house that may be hindering your witness?

About the Author Julie Cosgrove

“Then I heard the voice of the LORD saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I; send me!” (Isaiah 6:8)

God cares deeply about the lost and hurting persons around us. He has provided salvation in Jesus Christ. But He needs willing servants who will take that message to the people. I want to be that servant, don’t you?

What does it mean to be a servant of God? In earthly terms, the master tells the servant what to do and the servant goes off by himself and does it. A servant of a human master works for his master.

Being God’s servant is different, though. The servant listens carefully to what God wants to do, and then says, “Here am I. Send me.” God works through His servants. ⁽¹⁾

Let’s take Isaiah for an example and see how it applies to us today.

Isaiah saw the LORD high and lifted up sitting on a throne. Salvation is God’s work.

In the brightness of His holiness, Isaiah cried out, “Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips and I live in the midst of people with unclean lips.” (verse 5) God chooses to work through ordinary, sinful people.

Isaiah’s confession led to repentance and cleansing. How did he get cleansed? God took the initiative: He alone has the remedy for the sin and brokenness in ourselves and others.

God still uses cleansed, obedient people to accomplish His great work on earth.

He wants to involve us in His work. What a privilege!

Prayer: “Search me, Oh God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:23,24)

Question: Do you want to make a difference in the world around you? Then take these steps:
–spend time in God’s presence
–confess any sin and receive His cleansing
–listen to what God is already doing
–offer yourself and get on board.

About this Author: Helen Grace Lescheid

⁽¹⁾ Henry Blackaby and Claude V. King, Experiencing God, page 25

I like thrift stores. I normally go to look for books but once in a while something else will catch my eye. One day an old looking, tarnished, blackened silver teapot fell into my sights. It was close to our 25th wedding anniversary, and it was a good deal. After a little mental gymnastics I decided to lay out the cash, trusting it would polish up.

As I drove home, I glanced at my purchase. It looked bad. I had second thoughts. Had I made a mistake? I wondered where it had originally come from and then what homes it had traveled through on its way to ending up in a second hand store…

At home, I pulled out the silver polish and started the task of getting rid of the black exterior. Anticipation grew with each rub and stroke of work. To my wonder, my hopes of revealing its true beauty were realized. From a tarnished, blackened mess emerged a beautiful treasure. I could see my reflection in it now, and the sun made it gleam as the light bounced off its shiny, clean face.

This old silver teapot made me reflect on how God views our lives. He sees the mess, the tarnish and blackness, as well as each step in the journey. Every mark, each coat of disuse or neglect– He knows it all. He paid a great price for us, even when it was obvious that our outward beauty was marred. His son died on a cross to pay the purchase price for each one of us. He knows our value, with no second thoughts on whether he should have paid so much.

Unlike my silver teapot, we have to be willing to have our tarnish rubbed off. The price has been paid but the transaction is not complete until we are willing to submit to the gentle hands of the master to begin his work.

Sadly some think they have to remove the blackened tarnish on their own before they would somehow qualify to be God’s possession. As impossible as it would be for my silver teapot to clean itself, so it is with our lives. The true beauty of God’s creation can never be realized without His deliberate cleansing and gentle work in our lives.

When we become his possession he begins the process to bring out the beauty of His character in our lives. His work produces the unmistakable beauty of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Think for a moment, “What a difference would be made in your life and the lives of others around you if these characteristics were evident in your life?”

Years ago when I felt my life was in a bit of a mess I came across the poem, The Touch of the Master’s Hand by Myra Brooks Welch:

‘Twas battered and scarred and the auctioneer thought it scarcely worth his while to waste much time on the old violin, but he held it up with a smile. “What am I bidden, good folk,” he cried, “Who’ll start the bidding for me? A dollar, a dollar;” then, “Two! Only two? Two dollars, and who’ll make it three? Three dollars, once; three dollars, twice; going for three…” but no, from the room, far back, a gray-haired  man came forward and picked up the bow; then, wiping the dust from the old violin, and tightening the loose strings, he played a melody pure and sweet as a caroling angel sings.

The music ceased, and the auctioneer, with a voice that was quiet and low, said; “What am I bid for the old violin?” and he held it up with the bow. “A thousand dollars, and who’ll make it two? Two thousand! And who will make it three? Three thousand, once; three thousand twice, and going and going, and gone,” said he. The people cheered, but some of them cried, “We do not quite understand what changed its worth.” Swift came the reply; “The touch of the master’s hand.”

And many a man with life out of tune, and battered and scarred with sin, is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd, much like the old violin. A “mess of pottage,” a glass of wine; a game and he travels on. He is “going” once, and “going” twice, he’s “going” and almost “gone.” But the Master comes, and the     foolish crowd never can quite understand the worth of a soul and the change that’s wrought by the touch of the Master’s hand.

I was once tired of the mess of my life, which was tarnished and out of tune. I knew I needed the touch of God’s hand, and I cried out to God. I asked Him to use his touch in my life.

In fact, now it is a daily request. I have realized, on my own, I will never be what I long to be. I was not made to go through life without God’s touch. Just as a glove has no purpose without a hand, my life lacks its ultimate purpose without God.

You may be like me and have realized your need for the touch of the Master. If so, I suggest that you pray the following prayer:

Lord Jesus, I need You. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life and receive You as my Savor and Lord. Thank you for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Take control of the throne of my life. Make me the kind of person You want me to be. Amen.

If you prayed and invited Christ into your life just now, you can be sure he came in. The moment you invite Christ into your life by faith, many things happened including the following:
Christ came into your life.
Your sins are forgiven.
You became a child of God.
You received eternal life.
You began the great adventure for which God created you!!!

Or you might be saying, “I have opened my heart to Christ before.” If that is the case, He is still there with you but you need to once again put Him in the driver’s seat of your life. If that is the case, I suggest this prayer of surrender:

Dear Father, I need You. I acknowledge that I have sinned against You by directing my own life. I thank You that You have forgiven my sins through Christ’s death on the cross for me. I now invite Christ to again take His place on the throne of my life. Fill me with the Holy Spirit as you commanded me to be filled, and as You promised in Your Word that you would do if I asked in faith. I pray this in the name of Jesus. As an expression of my faith, I now thank You for directing my life and for filling me with the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The prayer of inviting Christ into your life is only needed once but the prayer of surrender should be a daily prayer, or in some cases, even more than hourly. Sometimes even minute by minute. The point is that as we surrender to God’s gentle touch in our lives He will tune or polish so that his beauty will be seen in us!

Questions: Have you allowed God to clean you up so we can all see your beauty? Tell us about it. What are some of the things that we are given as we become followers of Christ?

About the Author Mike Woodward

Daily audio podcast: A second daily devotional, Expressions of God’s Fatherhood, today on the Men’s Devotional Blog