The Mirror of the Word: A Daily Devotional Podcast from C.E. White

The Mirror of the Word and other works by C.E. White can be purchased on her website, cewhitebooks.com or on Amazon.

“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his godly ones.”

—Psalm 116:15

Death is part of our broken world. We mourn, and that is right.

But for believers, death is also precious, because those who have died in Christ are now forever with God and free from the toil, turmoil, and suffering of this life. “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain” (Revelation 21:4).

No more mourning, crying, or pain. No more struggles against this flesh. Perfect fellowship with Christ.

For a Christian, death is only sad from this side. The other side is glorious—the beautiful, complete fulfillment of God’s promise, our inheritance.

Missionary Lilias Trotter said of the people who were martyred where she served, “One draws a breath of relief when they get safe home [to heaven].”

We can rejoice that our loved ones no longer endure the struggle brought about by living as strangers in a strange land. 

Even without severe suffering or persecution, life, at its best, is still a fight that death releases us from—the fight to stay faithful to the Lord, to persevere until the end, to remain hopeful despite all the darkness, to be diligent to complete the good works God calls us to, and to resist the temptations of this world and our flesh.

We mourn our loss here when a believer passes on, but they have merely moved to that better country (Hebrews 11:16)—the one we all long for in our deepest depths.

The Lord welcomes his faithful servants home with rejoicing.

The post September 13-Home at Last appeared first on C. E. White.

The Mirror of the Word and other works by C.E. White can be purchased on her website, cewhitebooks.com or on Amazon.

“He said, ‘Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I shall return there. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.’”

—Job 1:21

In the middle of his tragedy, Job was blessing, praising, and trusting the Lord.

He did not blame or rail against the Lord. He grieved, but within that grief, he still held on to his confidence in the goodness of God. He asked why, but he did not curse God, though his wife told him he should. He wished to die, yet he did not renounce his faith.

He kept his eternal mindset, recognizing that nothing he had in this world would be taken with him into eternity, and if God saw fit to take it before his death, in the end, there was no difference.

There will be times in our lives when we don’t understand what God is doing and we feel abandoned by him. We may even—like Job—sometimes we wish we’d never been born (Job 3:1–16). It’s okay to vocalize that and take it to the Lord in prayer and lamentation. It’s okay to cry out in anguish.

Ultimately, what carries us through is knowing the end—that all we can see is passing away and our earthly sorrows will all be forgotten.

The things that will be carried into eternity cannot be taken away, and Job knew that.

May we all hold our lives on this earth so loosely that even when everything we have and everyone we love is gone, we can still bless the name of the Lord.

The post September 12-Loosening Our Grip appeared first on C. E. White.

The Mirror of the Word and other works by C.E. White can be purchased on her website, cewhitebooks.com or on Amazon.

“Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine, and acts on them, will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock.”

—Matthew 7:24–25

When the rain, floods, and wind come in our lives, what tumbles?

If Christ is our rock, then even when difficult circumstances arise, though we might be shaken and unnerved, we won’t be destroyed nor our faith and hope unseated.

But we don’t always recognize we’ve built on shaky ground until things start to shift, so how do we prepare?

We can use the small winds of life as indicators—the rudeness of the cashier, the driver who cuts us off, the wrong order at a restaurant, or someone telling us no.

Our reactions to these things reveal if we have hidden beliefs built on the unstable foundations of ease, convenience, pleasure, pride, ability, or what we feel we deserve. They can warn us that we won’t weather the real storms when they come.

We may also discover we have Christ firmly fixed as our foundation in one area but not another; perhaps bumps in our career don’t threaten our faith, but difficulties in our relationships do.

We must continually take stock of our spiritual lives and make Jesus alone our foundation in all areas. This is as simple as turning away from sin (simple, but not easy) and as complex as digging into our own roots of wrong belief to remove them.

Where we find unsteady foundations, we confess our lack of faith, preach biblical truth to ourselves, and pray for the Lord’s help in trusting him.

The post September 11-Storm Ready appeared first on C. E. White.

The Mirror of the Word and other works by C.E. White can be purchased on her website, cewhitebooks.com or on Amazon.

“‘Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you . . . Grant that we may sit, one on your right and one on your left, in your glory.’ But Jesus said to them, ‘You do not know what you are asking.’”

—Mark 10:35–38

These disciples didn’t yet understand that in the kingdom of God, the least is the greatest (Luke 9:48), and the greatest is a humble servant (Matthew 23:11–12). They sought glory and honor, not servanthood.

As Jesus went on to explain, “Whoever wants to become prominent among you shall be your servant; and whoever wants to be first among you shall be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:43–45).

Any glory we have in heaven will not be because we had great power, position, or success in this life. It will be because we made ourselves servants as Christ himself did.

The most jeweled crowns in heaven will likely be worn by people no one ever heard of—the godly janitors, the ordinary women who love every child as their own, and the people who diligently and thanklessly provided for their families in unfulfilling jobs.

When we’re willing to work for the kingdom of God despite the lack of notoriety or praise, we’re serving like Christ. When we humbly set aside our own desires, comfort, and lives for the good of others, we’re serving like Christ. When we live only for the hope of hearing the words, “well done,” from our heavenly Father instead of any man’s approval or earthly rewards, we’re serving like Christ.

Let us seek to be servants, not masters.

The post September 10-The Greatest Is Least appeared first on C. E. White.

The Mirror of the Word and other works by C.E. White can be purchased on her website, cewhitebooks.com or on Amazon.

“Be hospitable to one another without complaint.”

—1 Peter 4:9

If you’ve ever been a guest somewhere the hosts were complaining or grumbling about all the work they had to do or griping about the number of guests, or even to a restaurant where you could hear the servers complaining about their jobs, you know it doesn’t feel very hospitable.

Hebrews 13:17 says, “That they may do this with joy, not groaning; for this would be unhelpful for you.” This is speaking of leaders shepherding their churches, but it’s interesting that it addresses the same thing—if a service is done with groaning and complaint, it loses its benefit.

We can do the right things, but if we’re doing them with a complaining heart, we’re really not doing anyone any favors. It’s like serving fruit that looks good on the outside but is rotten in the middle. And rotten fruit won’t nourish anyone no matter how good it looks.

This is another reminder that heart–change—not just outward action—is what God is after. He doesn’t want us only doing the right things; he wants us doing the right things with the right attitude.

He doesn’t just want us to not murder; he wants us to not be angry (Matthew 5:21–26). He doesn’t just want us to not commit adultery; he wants us to not be lustful (Matthew 5:27–30). He doesn’t just want us to serve others; he wants us to serve others without complaining about it.

It’s easy to feel that as long as we’re doing the right things, we’re good. This is just another reminder that God desires not only our right actions, but “truth in the innermost being” (Psalm 51:6).

The post September 9-Not Just the Right Thing appeared first on C. E. White.

The Mirror of the Word and other works by C.E. White can be purchased on her website, cewhitebooks.com or on Amazon.

“Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength, and not just please ourselves.”

—Romans 15:1

Where are we strong, and how have we used that strength?

Some who think themselves strong use their outward righteousness as a reason to look down on others who are weak; they’re modern–day Pharisees.

We only need to look at how Jesus used his strength to see this is not the proper usage. Our strength is not for disdain, arrogance, selfishness, or forced subjugation, but for compassion, service, and sacrifice.

Do we use our strength to pursue our own desires, or do we use it to encourage and edify those around us?

Where our strengths are used to control, belittle, or please our flesh, they have become our downfalls. We have let strength lead us into pride.

Where our strengths are used to instruct, love, encourage, and serve, they’re being used in accordance with God’s plan. They have led us into Christlike humility. Any strength we have is not something we’re simply to rest and take comfort in; it’s to be used in service for others.

Bearing the weaknesses of others will often look like showing patience where none is deserved.

As we have patience with a toddler’s first steps, giving reassurance, support, example, and instruction, we come alongside the weaker believer. We teach them truth. We encourage them in righteousness. We help them stand back up and try again when they fall.

Our strength is for pulling others up, not pushing them down.

The post September 8-Strong to Love appeared first on C. E. White.

The Mirror of the Word and other works by C.E. White can be purchased on her website, cewhitebooks.com or on Amazon.

“From the end of the earth I call to you when my heart is faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.”

—Psalm 61:2

No matter where we are, how far we feel from the Lord, or how large our trouble, when our hearts are faint, the answer is to call on and rest in him, the only firm foundation.

No rock or foundation we could find for ourselves will carry us above our trouble. We cannot understand the reasons for our trials nor how to make it through them on our own strength.

But when we call on the Lord, though we be as far from him as we can go, he will lead us to the rock that is higher than we are—higher than our thoughts and higher than our troubles to the place where there is no hint of shifting sand, only the firm foundation that will keep us from being washed away with the wind and storms we endure.

At the end of the earth, it may seem he is not there or, perhaps, even if we know he is there, that he is not paying attention. We may ask, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” like the disciples did in Mark 4:38. He may seem to be asleep while we are fainting in fear. But he’s sleeping because he knows the end; there is no danger.

The storm is still there, but in his presence, we will rise above it. He will calm it when it’s time, and in the meantime, we don’t have to fear, because he is the high rock, and he is always with us.

The post September 7-No Shifting Sand appeared first on C. E. White.

The Mirror of the Word and other works by C.E. White can be purchased on her website, cewhitebooks.com or on Amazon.

“But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.”

—James 1:5–6

As Christians, we have access to the One who knows everything about everything from the beginning of time to the end. Why do we doubt and worry? God encourages us to ask for his guidance and wisdom and doesn’t look down on us for not knowing already. We can ask him anything “without reproach.”

The rest of this verse normally puts us in fear that we will not receive the wisdom because we have feelings of doubt.

But feelings of doubt are not the same as actions of doubt. We cannot help our feelings. In Mark 9, Jesus said the boy could be healed if the man believed, and the man replied, “I believe, help my unbelief!” Jesus did not scold him, and the boy was healed. The man was not punished for acting in faith where his feelings had trouble following.

We may feel tossed about internally, but as long as our external actions are still moving resolutely in faith, we are not “tossed by the wind.”

So don’t be afraid to ask the Lord for wisdom, and when you have doubts, simply continue walking in faith while praying, “I believe; help my unbelief.”

Our Lord is not stingy with his wisdom and gives it in great measure to all who seek.

The post September 6-Wisdom Without Reproach appeared first on C. E. White.

The Mirror of the Word and other works by C.E. White can be purchased on her website, cewhitebooks.com or on Amazon.

“Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self–control, and in your self–control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they do not make you useless nor unproductive in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

—2 Peter 1:5–8

Peter tells us to do these things after saying that God’s “divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3). 

On the one hand, if God’s given us everything we need, we have no excuses. On the other, if this has been granted already, why must we do anything at all? 

For the same reason a child who has access to a fabulous education must study diligently if they want to move forward. 

The education is available, but if they don’t apply themselves, it will be meaningless in their lives.

Once we’ve confessed, repented, and believed in Christ, all we need for life and godliness is available. 

Now it’s time to study and apply it with diligence “in faith.”  Outside of Christ’s redemption, applying all these things will mean nothing; we won’t have the Holy Spirit to live them out.

But if, through Christ, we’re increasing in these qualities, we will not be “useless and unproductive in the kingdom of God.” 

So if we’re feeling useless and unproductive, perhaps we can look at this list to discern where we lack application and diligence in these characteristics.

We want to hear the Lord’s “well–done” when we come before him, so let’s commit ourselves, in faith, to diligence in all these things.

The post September 5-Growing in Every Way appeared first on C. E. White.

The Mirror of the Word and other works by C.E. White can be purchased on her website, cewhitebooks.com or on Amazon.

“The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells everything that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold everything that he had and bought it.”

—Matthew 13:44–46

We spend all our lives seeking to acquire things. Most of us scatter our wealth of time, money, and effort with little thought to what we’re purchasing, but there is always an exchange.

Many of us have at least one thing we’ve been obsessively trying to purchase our whole lives, whether it’s relationship, success, ease, escape, or wealth. Sometimes the thing we want is even a good thing, but what we know—because the Lord tells us—is that none of those things are worth anything compared to the kingdom of God.

Perhaps we’ve finally been able to acquire some of those things we’ve sought but found they still don’t fill the deepest longings of our souls—the ache we thought they’d quench is still there.

We realize that we’ve worked long and diligently to buy the food that perishes (John 6:27–29).

Let us, instead, be willing to sell all our earthly trappings and trimmings—the worries and cares, the false hope of riches (Mark 4:19), our pride in ourselves, and the things our eyes desire and our hearts long for (1 John 2:15–17)—in our purchase of the one treasure worth more than all else.

Where are we placing our resources—both tangible and intangible? Have we yet committed all to the kingdom and heaven or are we still feverishly collecting trinkets and baubles?

The post September 4-One Pearl appeared first on C. E. White.