August 26, 2015
Parenting, workplace ethics, and spiritual warfare; it’s all in there. Ephesians 6 contains parting words from Paul to a faithful church facing the challenges that every church faces. Children ought to obey their parents so that all would go well (verses 1-3), and fathers ought to instruct and discipline children carefully (verse 4). Employees should serve their bosses as though serving Christ (verses 5-7), and bosses ought to remember that they have a “Boss” too (verse 9). But, then, the remaining words are about a hidden, sinister, and desperate battle of cosmic proportions; summarized well in verse 12: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” This cosmic battle requires the ultimate in preparedness (verses 13-18).These seemingly disjointed parting topics are more connected than we might realize. Previously, Paul descriptively outlined the roles of husbands and wives (5.22-33). The cosmic spiritual battle certainly comes to bear on marriage, as well as parenting and families, and employment. These are the very real arenas of warfare. As such, diligence and preparedness in each of these areas is vital to spiritual victory.Experience tells me that spiritual warfare, more often than not, comes as sniper attacks than full-blown military campaigns. A volatile word or phrase strikes at someone’s heart, and a heated exchange ensues. Alienation and hostility results, fracturing relationships. A rift continues; sometimes for an extended period of time; sometimes permanently. And, in its wake, the casualties are left to wonder what really happened.In recent times, the phrase, “Live carefully,” has often come to mind. Weigh words carefully. Live deliberately and intentionally. Warfare seems to be intensifying as this present age nears its conclusion. Thus, the urgent admonition to “pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints” (verse 18). Paul’s words may have been written, under inspiration of Holy Spirit many years ago, but they are as relevant today as then. The war continues, but the battle is ours if we persevere, and wage war with the weapons available to us. May we stand firm, fully dressed for the battle, so that victory is ours today, and always.Steve©Steve Taylor, 2015Be sure to also visit http://thetruthrevolution.wordpress.com/ Amazon ebook & print devotional -http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FQ1Q9GWpaperback print copy of book — https://www.createspace.com/4500045
August 25, 2015
Hunger and thirst have been unplanned themes in my recent teaching and preaching ministry. But, maybe they haven’t been as unplanned as they appear; perhaps the emphasis has been placed there by the One who knows the needs exists. Fact is, we’re more hungry and thirsty than we know. The problem is, most of us live in a culture of abundance and don’t know how great our thirst and hunger really is.“ 'If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, 'From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.' But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.” (John 7.37-39)Those thirsty enough to drink of the living water will themselves become a source of refreshment. The living water that flows out from its recipients is a spring of refreshing to those around. And, to remind us of the blessed era we live in, the writer of John’s Gospel qualifies that the time in which he wrote was previous to the giving of this precious gift, because “the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.” Living in this “post-glorified” era, we have in abundance what others could only see in faith.May we hunger and thirst for the Christ who satisfies with living water, and refresh those around us whose lives we touch.Steve©Steve Taylor, 2015Be sure to also visit http://thetruthrevolution.wordpress.com/ Amazon ebook & print devotional -http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FQ1Q9GWpaperback print copy of book — https://www.createspace.com/4500045
August 19, 2015
Activities lead to habits, and habits lead to lifestyle. In essence, what we do regularly eventually becomes habit and, over an extended period of time, these habits come to characterize our lifestyle. So, it behooves us to choose wisely as to what we do. “Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5.15-16)If only good intentions were the same as actual activities! Many of us find a certain satisfaction in what we intend to do, but the reality of action is another story entirely. Christian lifestyle is not determined by what we intend to do and practice, but what we actually do. As such, Ephesians 5 provides us with some excellent and important directives for lifestyle action. Active imitation of our heavenly Father, especially through the practice of love (Ephesians 5.1), is implored. Decisive action against things like immorality, greed, and inappropriate talk and conversation is also to be taken (Ephesians 5.3-5). Ultimately, we are called to live what might be called a “careful lifestyle”: a thoughtful, pro-active, God-honoring life.At least twice in this chapter, a thankful lifestyle is mentioned. Gratitude for grace overarches a specific do’s and don’ts lifestyle. In the absence of thankfulness, we will live little more than a legalistic, works-based lifestyle. And, high on the list of that which we are grateful for is the availability and work of God’s dynamic Holy Spirit: “do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5.18). The lifestyle we are called to can only be realized through the energizing work of God’s Spirit as we yield in every way to it. Without the aid of Holy Spirit, our lifestyle will only amount to good intentions.Perhaps at no point in recent times has a non-believing and cynical society looked more closely at the character and lifestyle of Christ’s followers than now. Glaring inconsistencies immediately squelch an appeal and witness to them. As such, the lifestyle qualities outlined in Ephesians 5 take on more priority for us than ever before. May our lifestyle be a compelling example and witness as a bright light in a very dark world. Steve©Steve Taylor, 2015Be sure to also visit http://thetruthrevolution.wordpress.com/ Amazon ebook & print devotional -http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FQ1Q9GWpaperback print copy of book — https://www.createspace.com/4500045
August 18, 2015
What are you hungry for? That’s often the question raised before a meal is cooked, or a restaurant is chosen. But, the question runs much deeper than menu options. “Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.’ “ (John 6.35)Hunger and thirst drive passion for satisfaction, and therein lies a potential problem. Esau, twin brother to Jacob, one day came home from work famished. Jacob exploited his brother’s hunger and exchanged a bowl of lentil soup for his cherished birthright. Hunger can too easily be falsely satisfied with the wrong things.So, a relevant question for us today is: are we truly hungry for the bread of life? Honestly, is it a deep down famished hunger, or a mere appetizer hunger? Are we looking for a small sample, or is real hunger driving us for the full-course meal?The nature of my hunger is unsettling, because I’m not entirely sure how great my appetite is. The trappings of lifestyle mask the real nature of that hunger. Having never known true physical hunger, I can’t be certain about real spiritual hunger. And perhaps that’s the greatest value of the practice of fasting: physical hunger, for a specified period of time, better reveals spiritual hunger.There is no doubt that the Bread of Life truly satisfies. The only variable is our personal appetite. Perhaps we better understand our hunger when we carefully evaluate how we seek to fill that hunger. Am I feasting largely on the world’s diet of entertainment, pleasure, and comfort, or do I regularly dine on prayer, Bible study, service, and evangelism? It’s not what we aspire to do that is indicative, but what we actually do.“Father, create a great hunger within us today for Your Son, and the priorities that are His and Yours. May that hunger be so great that we passionately pursue. As You and Your Son relentlessly pursue us, may we do likewise in return. Cause us to be hungry enough so that we might truly know satisfaction as only You can provide.”Steve©Steve Taylor, 2015Be sure to also visit http://thetruthrevolution.wordpress.com/ Amazon ebook & print devotional -http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FQ1Q9GWpaperback print copy of book — https://www.createspace.com/4500045
August 12, 2015
“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never harm me.” Perhaps the writer who penned these words was deaf, because far more harm has been done by words than physical injuries. As such, it behooves us to be careful with our words."Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4.29-32)Words proceed from the heart and mind, so the best way to watch our words is to guard our hearts and minds. The well of our lives provides the water of our words. So, addressing bitterness, wrath, anger, slander, malice, and the like, will have a direct impact on our words. And, this is a “Spirit thing”. Addressing these issues by our own power is like trying to pull every weed from a large, overgrown garden; it’s a never-ending task. By Holy Spirit, we are enabled, not only to rid ourselves of these things, but also to speak words “good for edification," and to be “kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” Words are the tools for gospel sharing. If our hearts are filled with negative emotions, effective gospel sharing will be negated; both with believers and nonbelievers. We cannot be effectively used by the LORD if the well of our lives is filled with foul water. We do well to weigh our words, but we do especially well to weigh our hearts and minds. Are we grieving Holy Spirit, or participating fully and blessing others with our words?Steve©Steve Taylor, 2015Be sure to also visit http://thetruthrevolution.wordpress.com/ Amazon ebook & print devotional -http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FQ1Q9GWpaperback print copy of book — https://www.createspace.com/4500045
