Thoughts in Worship

Message Magazine's Online Devotional for Thursday, April 14, 2016

Audio Link:

This Week’s Devotional Focus is, “Pure Religion.”

“Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” (James 1:27).

Just what does it mean to keep oneself unsullied from the world? I am so glad you asked!

It is not enough to simply answer this question in light of our verse’s context today. How can we be accessible to people, empathetic to their needs, compassionate, loving, and giving while maintaining an unsullied character?

The Bible gives us some clues in this. Here are a couple: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Romans 12:1–2). The very first thing we must keep in mind is that pure religionists always submit our lives, thoughts, actions, and everything that we are to Him. We are to be living sacrifices. That is, we give the liveliest and best of us to God for use as He sees fit. When we wake up in the morning we should dedicate ourselves to God to be used as He sees fit. This is only reasonable, especially since God created us and supplies every breath we take anyway.

Then the Bible says that we should not allow the world (obviously, the evil aspects) to squeeze us into its mold. We are not to allow the world’s paradigm to shape or form our manner of living or relating with others. The world is all about take, take, take. The world is about kill or be killed. The world is about if it feels good, then do it almost without regard for consequences. The world is about living a carnival life until we die. The world is about excess and waste, bigger homes, more luxurious cars, etc., because we “work hard and deserve it.”

However, the God of pure, undefiled religion wants to transform our minds, characters, and personalities so we will give until it hurts, speak life into others, have no real regard for what feels good as long as it is good according to God’s standard, and to loathe waste and opulence when there are so many in our society in dire need of our help.

To be unsullied by the world is to submit to God, reject the world’s paradigm, and yet being present at all times to be God’s ambassadors to all we encounter.—L. David Harris (www.DavidWritesaLot.com)

Thoughts in Worship

Message Magazine's Online Devotional for Wednesday, April 13, 2016

This Week’s Devotional Focus is, “Pure Religion.”

“Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” (James 1:27).

Practically speaking, the only way we can be worth our weight in salt during the short time we have to live in this world is if we have maximum impact on our families and larger society. While our pure religion principle calls for our characters to be unsullied by the world’s paradigm, it absolutely does not enjoin a separate but equal approach. It does not enjoin pure religionists to simply say that society has the right to push its agenda while we live according to ours as long as they do not intersect. God has not created any of us to be segregated, but rather integrated.

Jesus said it this way: “I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.” (John 17:15). Jesus, the Master Teacher, modeled the utmost in integration. Not only did Jesus come and visit earth from His lofty throne, He mysteriously changed His form, assuming human flesh after it was weakened by thousands of years of evil, so He could deliver us from sin’s power.

If ever a person will have a prayer of being effective in changing the world, that person must eat where the world eats, sleep where the world sleeps, play where the world plays, etc., all while maintaining a live connection with God to receive up to the minute power and instructions.

So your marching orders for today, should you choose to accept them, is to first link with God for strength and instruction, then live your life with God’s agenda and people’s wellbeing in mind.—L. David Harris (www.DavidWritesaLot.com)

Thoughts in Worship

Message Magazine's Online Devotional for Tuesday, April 12, 2016

This Week’s Devotional Focus is, “Pure Religion.”

“Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” (James 1:27).

It is not easy to see people suffering, in pain, or emotionally distressed. And this is one of the reasons people give for not visiting the sick or afflicted. Some people say they cannot handle it. Some people feel like they cannot handle the sadness that might overcome them if they invest their time visiting those who are lonely. I ask you, if that is you or anyone you know, how must the afflicted ones feel in that case? If you or I feel sad witnessing their affliction, how must they feel being afflicted?

Our theme text did not simply say we should invest time in the lives of widows. It added the phrase, “in their affliction.” This means that there are many women who have enjoyed long relationships with their beloved husbands, but for whatever reasons, the husbands have met their untimely demise. This must be heart wrenching. Can you imagine having your life so intertwined with someone else, possibly having children together, having all of your business affairs melded together, and a home that is the essence of your bond, and then suddenly that is all ripped away through death? I would call that affliction.

These dear women have built up years of memories with one man whom they vowed to live with happily ever after. They quite possibly can almost hear his voice, sense how he smelled, see his loving eyes as though he were right there, but he’s not, and nothing can bring Him back. Who will now be these dear women’s companions? Whom will they be able to call just to talk, go on walks in the park with, or share a cup of their favorite mint tea with?

Our God is very practical. While it is true that nobody can replace the love of a deceased husband, caring friends can show love on such a level that reduces the sting. We can be a listening hear. We can be an empathetic shoulder to cry on. We can lend a helping hand. We can intercede in prayer. We can simply, yet profoundly be available in whatever way they may need us to be. And all told, we might even be surprised at how much the simplest gestures of love impact the lives of these women.

So if you know any women whose husbands have died, by all means lend a helping hand and a compassionate ear to lighten their burdens wherever possible. It will go a long way in facilitating their healing.—L. David Harris (www.DavidWritesaLot.com)

Thoughts in Worship

Message Magazine's Online Devotional for Monday, April 11, 2016

This Week’s Devotional Focus is, “Pure Religion.”

“Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” (James 1:27).

Pure religion is practical. Oftentimes Christians are portrayed as theorists and Bible apologists who never actually do anything meaningful in our communities. While it is true that some have not gotten the biblical memo on this, those who live according to the Scriptures draw close to those in need.

There are many who have no active father in their lives or positive male role models. Consequently, some find family bonds in gang life. There are many who learn their paradigms from others whose fathers abandoned them and that is obviously perpetuated in their mistreatment of women. Some of us had fathers who were mainly such biologically, but not in terms of love, nurture, reflecting the image of Christ in our households, and wholehearted provision.

Not only are young men affected by fatherlessness. Many of our young ladies have been suffering beneath that burden. Some have had great daddies who have died at the hands of diseases, tragic accidents, or are absent due to incarceration. Others have either not known their fathers or were abandoned by them for whatever reasons. The results of fathers and or positive father figures being absent from the lives of young women are often manifest in depression, poor relationship choices, poor grades in school, behavior problems, deteriorating relationships with their mothers, and unmentionably worse.

What the Bible is saying here is that those who embody the pure religion principle reach out to those who would otherwise become a statistic. We become available to young men and woman to model the interest and tender care Jesus demonstrated. We are not satisfied with simply seeing them and smiling. No. If we can share money, we share money. We do our best to be a shoulder to cry on. We invest time getting to know their likes and dislikes. We teach them valuable life principles. We make and keep promises. We pray for and with them. We encourage them to excel in all areas of life, and much more. In short, we take a hands-on approach and in many ways become a community of surrogates to them. In my adulthood, I experienced a few couples that became that for me, and in turn, I am learning to do the same for others.

Pure religion is practical, helpful to others, and can be duplicated so others learn from our examples to do the same.—L. David Harris (www.DavidWritesaLot.com)

Thoughts in Worship

Message Magazine's Online Devotional for Sunday, April 10, 2016

This Week’s Devotional Focus is, “Pure Religion.”

“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain. Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” (James 1:22–27).

The Bible brilliantly puts an end to our seemingly endless rounds of arguments, pithy sayings, misleading idioms, political debates, and circular reasoning concerning religion. We need not fear the word or principle of religion. We need not avoid religion like some plague, congratulating ourselves because we believe we have transcended it in order to have a “relationship” with God. The Bible actually links pure religion with a relationship with God and people, thereby dismantling the argument that all religion is impractical and unspiritual.

I will admit that unmentionable heinous acts have been committed under the pretense of religion. One of the most notable among many was a 1,260 year massacre of so-called dissenters and heretics whom the false church of Bible prophecy tortured and destroyed with impunity. This was all done in the name of religion. We have seen news reports, online videos, and experienced in our large cities, the effects of misguided religionists who take out their fury on those who do not agree with their worldviews. Yet, these and other extreme practitioners of what they consider religion no more cast aspersion on the genuine article of religion, than do counterfeit money devalue real currency. It simply says at least two things:

1.Pure religion is of so much value that the devil seeks to redirect as many people as possible to his version like a renegade hacker with an axe to grind

2.We must be doubly sure we are living according to God’s pure model of religion so we can rightly represent Him at all times

Our theme text links this pure religion to how we relate to the downtrodden among us. It links pure religion with having control of one’s words. It links pure religion with actually being obedient to the principles outlined in God’s law, rather than simply observing their validity or existence. Simply put, God is interested in us living religion that relieves suffering, practices self-control, and lives according to the principles of God’s law.

As we zoom in to take a closer look at certain religious and social issues this week, please do not allow the counterfeits to cause you to lose your relish for religion in its purity.—L. David Harris (www.DavidWritesaLot.com)

Thoughts in Worship

Message Magazine's Online Devotional for Friday, April 8, 2016

This Week’s Devotional Focus is, “Cooperation.”

“And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.” (Matthew 19:5–6).

Biblical marriage is the ultimate demonstration of human unity and cooperation. During the first week of creation, God affixed His seal to it. He created Adam, the perfect man, in His image and at just the right time, having had some private time with Adam, he put him to sleep. As he slept, God performed an operation on him, removing a rib from his side and forming a woman. This beautiful, perfect woman would be his equal who would help complete him. After she and God had some private time alone as Adam slept, God awakened him and they met for the first time. Adam immediately called her “Woman”, because she came from man. Thus it was that God performed the first miracle of marriage and the ultimate in human unity was revealed and indelibly etched into the fiber of human love and interaction. Two people, complete in their relationship with God became one flesh.

While I would be remiss if I represented marriage as some mystical entity into which our invisible God ushers us if we are found worthy, I would be equally remiss were I to misrepresent it as a mere human construct. That, perhaps, would be even more destructive. In many ways this cooperation of marriage wherein two individuals who ideally are complete in and of themselves become inextricably unified into one purposeful entity actually represents the highest order of cooperation. And this is why it is absolutely necessary to retain God’s view of marriage rather than concocting our own. In God’s view of marriage, selfless love between a man and woman is paramount. In God’s view of marriage, that man and woman vow never to abuse or intentionally hurt one another. In God’s view of marriage, that man and woman vow not allow any intruders to meddle in or insert otherwise themselves into their intimate areas of relationship. In God’s view of marriage, the man and wife vow to build one another up and never use their vulnerabilities as a manipulation tool. In God’s view of marriage, if the couple does have children, those children will witness what it’s like to live in harmony with each other and with God.

And this brings me to the main point. The reason we must reject any iteration, mutation, or variation of the Bible model for marriage and embrace God’s view, is because it ultimately represents our union with God. Notice what the apostle, Paul said about it in this lengthy passage: “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.” (Ephesians 5:22–32).

The ultimate manifestation of marriage is intended to illustrate our relationship with God as we prepare to live with Him forever.—L....

Thoughts in Worship

Message Magazine's Online Devotional for Thursday, April 7, 2016

This Week’s Devotional Focus is, “Cooperation.”

“And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” (Luke 22:41–42).

It’s not easy yielding your power position to someone else, especially when yielding means privation or pain.

Jesus’ entire mission to earth was about submitting to His Father’s decisions for the benefit of humanity. Were it not, He need not have gone to the trouble of experiencing miraculous birth, living a difficult life, or dying a ignominious death. But because He loves all of us so much and wants to have our companionship forever, Jesus fully cooperated with the Father and the Spirit on their mission of mercy to save us from our sins.

There were few times this reality was more palpable than when He was in the Garden of Gethsemane. He had lived 33 ½ years among us, and though He only did good things for us, so many disrespected and abused Him. And while our eternal lives hung in the balance, as Jesus contemplated swallowing His bitter pill of affliction, He prayed. He asked His heavenly Father if there was another way to accomplish the mission besides enduring the cruel cross and separation from Him in death. With no other way in sight, Jesus ultimately resigned Himself to relinquish His own will to the Father for our benefit.

As the story continues with Jesus emerging from His agonizing prayer session, His resolve was strengthened to cooperate with the plan they made in eternity past. He would not allow difficulty, pain, trials, or foreboding deter Him from His goal.

Since Jesus was willing to give His life for you, are you willing to surrender your will to Him?—L. David Harris (www.DavidWritesaLot.com)

Thoughts in Worship

Message Magazine's Online Devotional for Wednesday, April 6, 2016

This Week’s Devotional Focus is, “Cooperation.”

“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:26–28, ESV).

Praying is one of the simplest things to do. It’s having a conversation with God. It’s telling God what you like, dislike, hope for, love about Him, desire for others, etc. It’s asking how He’d like us to act or react in certain situations. It’s opening our hearts to God without hesitation or airs. It’s asking for forgiveness, cleansing, and the power to live right. It’s giving thanks for what God’s doing in our lives. It’s giving praise for who God is. It’s waiting patiently and without distraction for God’s answers. Talking and listening are basic human functions. We have been doing it most of our lives; some of us better than others, but we do it nonetheless.

Yet, even with all its simplicity, it is also filled with power and intrigue. We are encountering the God of the universe, after all. What should be the manner of our praying? What should be our posture and attitude during prayer? How often should we pray? How should we address the King when we pray? How much time should we invest in prayer? With all of these questions come perhaps the simplest, for what should we pray?

While prayer is a simple enough concept, there are supernatural elements that require supernatural interventions. Notice what Jeremiah says about our thought lives: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9). Even though we are obviously aware of what we are thinking, our perceptions about and perspectives on what we think are skewed. Although we consciously may have certain intentions, there are subconscious elements we do not fully understand. And to top it all off, we are actually sinful! This is not good.

This is where divine cooperation comes in. The Bible says that our God welcomes us to come boldly into His presence. And when we get there, since we have no idea what to say that gets supernatural results (although we can flatter ourselves into thinking otherwise), the Holy Spirit who knows the mind of the Father turns up our prayers to be heard in heavenly language. The Spirit translates our feeble attempts at prayer into sweet melodies of prayers that become irresistible to the Father’s ears. And to top it all off, the Spirit is actually holy! This is good.

The Bible further says that all things work together for those who are surrendered to God according to His will. While this could certainly be applied to all areas of our lives, notice that this statement comes in direct context of the Spirit’s intercession. All of our thoughts, acts, and feelings, when submitted to God in truehearted prayer are mediated and translated by the Spirit to be answered in the best possible way. All of the circumstances surrounding our needs, whether good or bad, are all run through God’s heavenly filtration system, and worked out for our good. I am so happy the Spirit does not leave us to our own devices when it comes to prayer. The Father loves us. The Son gave His life for us. The Spirit translates our prayers. What more could we want? It is an impressive model of cooperation. And I am so thankful it is.—L. David Harris (www.DavidWritesaLot.com)

Thoughts in Worship

Message Magazine's Online Devotional for Tuesday, April 5, 2016

This Week’s Devotional Focus is, “Cooperation.”

“THE Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.” (Revelation 1:1–3).

God wants to have a word with you! This word is so important and relevant that He preserved it throughout the ages and communicated through a multiplicity of divine agencies so you could be blessed. This Word is the Revelation of Jesus Christ for our days and times.

Notice how the Revelation came to us: God communicated His blessing through Christ, down through His angel, to His servant John, to be communicated to His servants, because the time revealed in the prophecy is at hand. That is, the time wherein His message is most applicable and empowering is now.

What if there was discord among the heavenly agencies? What if the spirit of Lucifer as he was becoming the disgruntled devil continued to pervade heaven while we were down here awaiting the words of life? Where would that leave us? I am so thankful that God’s Spirit is in complete control as all heaven unites to teach us the keys to salvation.

Oftentimes people miss out on the Revelation, because they are looking the wrong place for it. People search cryptic novels with eerie covers and catchy titles that claim to have the key to some mystical secret. People are drawn to the spiritualistic movies with captivating Hollywood trailers and the baritone, breathy voiceover of a British voice actor, which flashes all sorts of suspenseful images and scenes before their eyes. And, you guess it: They hope to learn from fictional characterizations, some mystical key to an ancient code. Others, with perhaps a more traditional perspective look to St. John the Divine for God’s revelation (many Bibles title the section, “The Revelation of St. John the Divine”). Here’s the thing, God has promised to give us the revelation of, get this, Jesus Christ, if we keep our eyes focused in the right direction—toward Him.

This blessed book is a comprehensive look at all, yes all, that the rest of Scripture has taught in principle. And, all if this culminates in a crystal clear view of Jesus Christ—a revelation of Jesus Christ. To whom is the revelation given? All who submit to Him as His servants, read/hear the prophecies of this book, and keep the things written therein receive it. Why do we need this final, comprehensive look at Jesus Christ? The Bible writer learned from the angel that the time was at hand. What time? Let me see if I can quickly encapsulate the answer. The same God who sent and signified through His angel, some aspects of last day truth to Daniel the prophet millennia ago, is unsealing that which He told Daniel to shut up and seal all of that time ago. Notice what the Bible says: “And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.” (Daniel 12:1–4). We are living in the time of the end! There is no doubt that...

Thoughts in Worship

Message Magazine's Online Devotional for Monday, April 4, 2016

This Week’s Devotional Focus is, “Cooperation.”

“To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.” (2 Corinthians 5:19).

On may occasions over the years I have underscored the fact that God loves us so much that He personally handled the sin problem. Instead of staying way up in heaven and pulling puppet strings from that distance, He took the matter of salvation firmly in hand, to His glory and our eternal benefit. We have underscored the “God with us” principle where God (the Father) sent God (the Son) here to save His people from their sins. Jesus, who is the express Image and Person of the Father, represents the fulness of the Godhead bodily. Therefore, just as a ram was prepared on Mt. Moriah in Abraham’s day, to take the place of Isaac as a sacrifice, God provided Himself (as) a lamb to be sacrificed so we would not need to be.

Having heard all this and received enlightened understanding of its import through the Spirit, it would not be unusual for us to be shouting and leaping, and praising God for divine cooperation in sending God’s dear Son to deliver us from sin.

Yet, the blessing of cooperation of redemption goes even deeper than that, if you can believe it. Not only did God (the Father) send God (the Son) to represent heaven perfectly to defeat the devil through God (the Spirit), but the Bible says that God (the Father) was personally present in Jesus Christ reconciling the world unto Himself. Sometimes people underestimate the Father’s love for us. Even though we are somewhat grateful that He sent His eternal Representative to defeat the enemy, we may underestimate His involvement in the process. I will not claim I understand the details of God’s involvement, nor will I blasphemously claim I understand what it means that He was personally present in Christ doing the work. However, I do understand that there is a contrast between standing aloof and being personally present and involved. I do understand that there is a difference between having to await reports from those one may send as a representatives to handle one’s affairs and being able to empathize due to your direct hands-on approach. Thus it is that the mystery of God (the Son) assuming human form is further elevated by God (the Father) being in Him cooperating to unshackle us from our bondage to sin. And this mysterious cooperation has been a blessing for millions of hurting, needy people for generations.

I am so thankful that God demonstrated the ultimate in teamwork so we could be delivered from sin. It’s no wonder, then, that God has given us the same ministry of cooperation. It’s no wonder that He despises discord and strife among us, especially among people who claim to believe in Him. He wants us to cooperate with Him so we can minister with others, to people bound by sins and weaknesses. If God can unify to help us, we must consider it a privilege to unify to help others. For God wants to be in you, dear friends, reconciling the world unto Himself much in the same He was in Christ doing the same.—L. David Harris (www.DavidWritesaLot.com)