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Galatians 5:13, Colossians 4:12

Grow in Serving Others

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
March 5, 2025

One of the most significant kinds of growing we can do is in serving Christ and serving others. The Apostle Paul mentored several young men into their roles as Christian leaders in the first century. Everyone is aware of Timothy because of the two letters that Paul wrote to him from prison that are part of the New Testament. But there were several others mentioned in the New Testament also. There was Luke, John Mark, Silas, Titus, Onesimus, Philemon and many others. There was one young man from Colossae named Epaphras. When Paul was in prison in Rome, the church at Colossae sent this man to visit Paul and to encourage him. When Paul wrote the letter to the Colossians, he spoke about Epaphras and said, “Epaphras sends greetings. He is one of you. He serves Christ Jesus. He is always praying hard for you. He prays that you will stand firm in holding to all that God has in mind for us. He prays that you will continue to grow in your knowledge of what God wants you to do.” Colossians 4:12

There are several Spiritual gifts that we are all exhorted to exercise. Some have a special gift with regard to “giving.” Paul includes that one as one of the Spiritual gifts in his list of gifts. Ones with that gift have been specially blessed by God to make money in ways that most of us never experience in life. Paul expects them to be extra-generous. But all of us are challenged to give. Some have the special gift of evangelism and seem to reach people that others cannot. Yet nearly all the writers of the New Testament charge every Christian with the duty of sharing their faith with others. Service, itself, is one of the spiritual gifts, but we’re all called to serve.

Paul intimately connects the call to serve others with the new freedom that comes to us through our faith in Jesus Christ. The book on Christian liberty, Galatians, corrects false teachings regarding the role of doing good deeds and avoiding bad deeds as they relate to our salvation. We are set free from the confines of the law and that is one of the greatest enablements in the world. It’s surprising what I can do when I don’t “have to.” It seems like my whole life was lived under a system built on “have to”, “need to”, “ought to,” and “should of” kind of thinking. Removing the necessity of doing good works for my salvation sets me free to do good works.. The question then becomes, what are you going to do with all this freedom? Here’s what Paul says in his conclusion to the Galatians: “For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.” (Galatians 5:13) Furthermore, Peter reminds us, “Each of you has received a gift in order to serve others. You should use it faithfully.” 1 Peter 4:10

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Ephesians 5:18

What Excites You?

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
March 4, 2025

The word for passion in the Bible is often used to refer to the physical drives for food, sex, and water. It’s a compulsion that one will do whatever is necessary to fulfill. Paul talks about fulfilling the sex drive in the bounds of matrimony. He says, “But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion” (1 Corinthians 7:9). It is often included in the list of fleshly sins. Paul also writes, “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry” (Colossians 3:5). The root of the word deals with “strong desire” but it doesn’t always have to be a bad “strong desire.” In a verse that is contrasted with the fleshly passions, Paul says to Timothy, “But as for you…flee these things (fleshly passions). Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness” (1 Timothy 6:11)

Did you know that the word from which our word “enthusiasm” comes is a combination of two words, which are “theos” (God) and “en” (in)? It means God in you! Jesus told us that He would send us the Holy Spirit who would “…be in you” (John 14:17). Even today, we say he or she has “spirit” when we see someone filled with enthusiasm and passion about what they are doing. All the enthusiasm and spirit we need are right here in us. It’s a wellspring that will never run dry. Once we grasp the depth of God’s love for us, as expressed on the cross of Calvary, our lives will never be the same. His “passion” for us took Him to the cross. It’s even called “the passion.” We are changed forever. Paul tells the Ephesians and all of us that we should “be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18). Spiritual Gifts are special abilities that come along with the presence of the Spirit in our lives. Based on our specific abilities, experiences, and personalities, they are the things we get excited about.

I don’t get enthusiastic about everything in life! I’m not a good numbers person! I’m not a good details guy! I don’t do well in physics, science, biology, geography, or geology. My father was in construction, doing plastering, cement, stone, and artificial stone work. He was excellent at that and got passionate about it. He would take every opportunity to sign his work, like an artist. On the north side of the Longhorn Bar in Fort Calhoun, Nebraska, you will see his name cut right into the stone along with “Durostone,” the name of his company. He was a good artist and I have lots of drawings he made as well. But that wasn’t for me! I couldn’t draw a straight line. I would never be happy doing that kind of work. But I really do get excited about talking about God’s Word. Once I became a Christian, that’s all I’ve wanted to do, thus off to Bible College and then Seminary to study and learn God’s Word to spend the rest of my life talking about it. Jim Collins, in his book “Good to Great,” says, “The good-to-great companies did not say, ‘Okay, folks, let’s get passionate about what we do.’ Sensibly, they went the other way entirely: ‘We should only do those things that we can get passionate about.’” I still write these morning devotions because I’m passionate about studying and talking about the bible. I can say with the Apostle Paul, “Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God.” 1 Corinthians 2:12

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Matthew 12:35, Proverbs 4:23

Speak From The Heart!

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
March 3, 2025

The heart is a deep subject in the scriptures. It shows up over 700 times in the Bible and is used in several different ways. I’m not sure it can be easily defined. We are to love God with all of our hearts (Deuteronomy 6:5, Matthew and Mark). Our heart can have confidence (Psalm 27:3). God will not despise a repentant heart (Psalm 51:17). I like the way Max Lucado describes the biblical use of the word heart. He writes, “…the heart was the totality of the inner person—the control tower, the cockpit. The heart was thought of as the seat of the character—the origin of desires, affections, perceptions, thoughts, reasoning, imagination, conscience, intentions, purpose, will, and faith…To the Hebrew mind, the heart is a freeway cloverleaf where all emotions, prejudices, and wisdom converge. It is a switch house that receives freight cars loaded with moods, ideas, emotions, and convictions and puts them on the right track.” I would add a short phrase at the end of Max’s thought, “…or the wrong track.”

There is one theme that is recurring regarding the heart. It is that the heart is the seat of all our motives in life. Only the “heart” can explain why we say the things we say. Jesus told his listeners on several occasions that “…out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matthew 12:34). In Luke 6:45, Jesus says the same thing. In Matthew 15:18, Jesus said that the heart, the motives behind our speech, is something that often results in sin. He said, “…but the things which go forth out of the mouth come out of the heart, and those defile man.” Now, the wisest man in the world, Solomon, in the book of Proverbs, tells us that we must “guard our hearts, above all else” (Proverbs 4:23). He explains why it’s so important by adding that the heart “is the wellspring of life.” Why we say what we say is determined by the heart. Matthew 12 goes on to say that a “good heart brings forth good things… while an evil heart brings forth evil things.”

What we say either helps others or hurts them. The Amplified version of the Bible translates Psalm 4:4 (the Psalm Paul quotes in Ephesians 4:26) as “Be angry [or stand in awe] and sin not; commune with your own hearts upon your beds and be silent…” It then gives a parenthetical explanation of this phrase. It is “…sorry for the things you say in your hearts.” I’m often sorry for the things I say with my mouth, but I’ve not spent much time repenting and being sorry for what I say in my heart. Paul gives us a clear directive regarding our speech. He writes, “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear” Ephesians 4:29. If the heart is on the right track, the words will also be. That was Paul’s practice, “He (Paul) traveled through that area, speaking many words of encouragement to the people…” Acts 20:2

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Romans 12:10-11, Ephesians 6:11-18

A Fire in your Heart!

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
March 2, 2025

I’ve often quoted Bilbo Baggins, who responded to Gandalf’s call to his journey across Middle Earth to destroy the one ring. Gandalf told him it would be a wondrous adventure. Bilbo says, “Oh no! Adventures make one late for dinner.”  He liked the little hovel cut into the earth where he lived and enjoyed the smell of bacon frying in the morning. So do I! At 78, I have no fire in my heart for adventure anymore. I miss that and pray that it can still be rekindled. Living life with passion becomes boring quickly.  Max Lucado wrote a great little devotion about building a fire in your heart. He writes, “Jesus says the options are clear. On one side, there is the voice of safety. You can build a fire in the hearth, stay inside, and stay warm and dry for what you don’t try, right? You can’t fall if you don’t take a stand, right? You can’t lose your balance if you never climb, right? So don’t try it. Take the safe route. Or you can hear the voice of adventure—God’s adventure. Instead of building a fire in your hearth, build a fire in your heart. Follow God’s impulses. Adopt the child. Move overseas. Teach the class. Change careers. Run for office. Make a difference. Sure, it isn’t safe, but what is?”

When I read Romans 12:10-11, it reminded me of the call to the life of adventure. Paul tells the believers in Rome this: “Love each other deeply. Honor others more than yourselves. Never let the fire in your heart go out. Keep it alive. Serve the Lord!” (Romans 12:10-11). The Christian life is truly an adventure. Not everyone will truly embark on it. I found a little adventure with my grandkids playing the video game called “Skyrim.” It’s about, primarily, being a dragon slayer. It’s set in medieval times and has swords, armor, helmets, spears, breastplates, etc. I can’t help but think about Paul’s explanation to the Ephesians in chapter six about the Christian armor. He says, “Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” Our enemy is the one that the Book of Revelation calls the “dragon.” Paul goes on, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” This great fire-breathing dragon will extinguish every heart’s fire if we’re not “on guard.”

Paul’s exhortation to the Ephesians continues: “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” As you follow your adventures through Skyrim, you encounter guards and citizens who speak to you when you pass by. Several times, you will hear them say after you, “I used to be an adventurer like you, but then I took an arrow to the knee.” I don’t want that to be my testimony at the end of my life. I want to die slaying dragons. After all, “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?” Psalm 27:1

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Proverbs 27:19

Searching the Heart

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
March 1, 2025

I’ve never liked the idea of “looking within myself” to find life’s answers. The focus on “me” seems to be unbiblical in some ways. I grew up in the “me” generation of the 60’s where it was chic to abandon life’s responsibilities and “get our motors running and head out on the highway.” One of the most popular movies of that era was “Easy Rider.” That social experiment of the ’60s was a failure. I know many from that era who “fired all their guns at once” and truly did “explode into space” (quote from Steppenwolf’s “Born to be Wild”). But there are passages in the Bible that point to my need to understand myself in some ways. The wisest man in the world tells me that I can learn some interesting things about myself if I study my “heart.” He says, “As in water, face reflects face, so the heart of man reflects the man” (Proverbs 27:19).

I’m not suggesting, nor do I believe the Bible teaches, that we can completely know our hearts. It’s a much deeper subject than we might imagine. The heart is the seat of all our emotions, reasons, and motives. Jeremiah teaches us that the “heart is desperately wicked.” He then goes on to ask, “Who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9). The assumption in that Hebrew question is that no one can really completely know or fully understand the depth of man’s depravity. That’s why David spent so much time in prayer. One of his key prayers is found in Psalm 139. In verse 23 of that great prayer, David pleads with God, “Search me, O God, and know my heart. Try me and know my thoughts.” He goes on to pray for the purging of any wickedness that would be found within. We all must come to grips with our own sinfulness. This drives us to the Cross of Christ. We need a savior. Jesus died to pay for our sins, and he has provided a new life, a life of meaning and purpose that marks the fulfillment of God’s purpose for our lives.

When Solomon talks about seeing who we really are in our hearts, he’s saying we get to understand how God has shaped us, formed us, even in our mother’s womb, to serve His purpose in the world and generation in which we live. Finding and following a heart passion is not an easy thing. One would think that it’s readily apparent, but it isn’t always that way. I believe the key is to spend time with God, His Word, and an open mind in prayer. Hebrews 4:12 teaches us that “God’s Word examines the thoughts and motives of our hearts.” To James, God’s Word is the mirror in which we can find ourselves. I’m sure you’ve heard Socrates’ quote, “The unexamined life isn’t worth living.” Even Paul tells the Galatians that each person “must examine his or her own work” if they are to find true satisfaction in a job well done (Galatians 6:4). I love the American Heart Association’s motto: Search your heart: Learn and Live! We should search our hearts and Love, Learn, and Live! David’s prayer is, “Search me, O God, and know my heart…and lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalm 139:23-24

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Colossians 3:23, 2 Chronicles 31:21

Put Your Heart into it!

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
February 28, 2025

When you discover your life’s passions, follow them, and serve God’s purpose for your life with them, you can share Solomon’s experience. He said in Ecclesiastes 2:10, “My heart took delight in all my work.” According to him, work is a blessing from God. When we devote ourselves to it, we can find true joy and fulfillment as well as make significant contributions to the world in which we live. Paul wanted the Colossians to have that joy in life, so he exhorted them, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as though you were working for the Lord and not for human beings” (Colossians 3:23). I always like to add to that verse, “…because you are!” That is, you are working for the Lord. Everything you do is something that is evaluated, tested, measured, and will be eventually rewarded by God. In a very real sense, we are all working for God in all our life’s efforts. Solomon advises those who were shepherds to “Know well the condition of your flocks, and give attention to your herds…” The phrase “know well” is translated as “put your heart into it” by the NLT.

When you put your heart into your work, it results in great blessings for yourself, your family, and everyone else around you. Solomon goes on to use the farming and shepherding metaphor to make his point. He writes “After the hay is harvested and the new crop appears and the mountain grasses are gathered in, your sheep will provide wool for clothing, and your goats will provide the price of a field. And you will have enough goats’ milk for yourself, your family, and your servants” (Proverbs 27:25-27). Although that passage deals with physical blessings, I’m sure the point is “satisfaction” and “fulfillment” from the works of our hands.  I Like the New Jerusalem translation of Colossians 3:23-24. It reads, “Whatever your work is, put your heart into it as done for the Lord and not for human beings, knowing that the Lord will repay you by making you his heirs. It is Christ the Lord that you are serving.”

Hezekiah is another great example. He was one of the better kings who focused his attention on God’s work in the world and the centrality of God’s place in his people’s lives. The testimony recorded of him is found in 2 Chronicles 31:21. It says, “And every work that he undertook in the service of the house of God and in accordance with the law and the commandments, seeking his God, he did with all his heart, and prospered.” There is no greater satisfaction or prosperity than to serve God in the way He has gifted us. F. B. Meyer wrote, “The man who does his business with all his heart is sure to prosper. To put your heart into your work is like genius manipulating common materials till their worth becomes priceless, just because of what has been put into it.” Paul said, “Whatever your work is, put your heart into it…” Colossians 3:23-24

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Colossians 3:23

The Dance of Love

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
February 27, 2025

There is a big difference between watching a third grader do a dance recital and watching someone like Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. Now, I’m sure to many of you that dates me as ancient. OK, well, maybe you’d think of John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John when you think of dancing teams. That probably dates me as old, also. OK, maybe you’d think of those who are the professional dancers in Dancing with the Stars! My point is there is a difference in how you watch a child’s dance recital and a professional. When I watch a 3rd grader’s dance recital, I’m probably as nervous for them as they are. I hope that they do well, but I know that no matter what happens, I’m going to applaud like crazy. But when I watch Fred Astaire and Ginger, I want to dance. Not only does it make me want to dance, it makes me believe that I can dance!

It’s a joy to watch people who are doing what they want to do and what they love to do. When your heart is in your work, people take notice. They most often see excellence, enthusiasm, and effectiveness. It’s attractive and compelling! Have you ever watched people at 7:30 am on their way to work? Most people really look unhappy. I don’t know if they are or not. Maybe they’re just tired. But that sure doesn’t make me want to do what they’re doing. I saw a guy dressed in some crazy outfit. I don’t think it was a chicken, but it could have been. He was holding a sign on 108th & Maple, pointing to a fast-food chain advertising the day’s special. He was dancing, swinging the sign, and shouting at the cars going by. I had just eaten but watching him enjoying what he was doing made me want to buy lunch again! Most people see a job like that as being on the lower rung of the social ladder. This guy gave the impression that he had no idea what people thought and couldn’t have cared less if he did. He was just enjoying it to his heart’s delight. I was moved by that. Doing what you love and loving what you do is what makes all the difference.

But everybody gets tired sometimes. Even Jesus, who I’m sure was passionate about His life on earth, had to separate himself from the crowds to reconnect with the Father. But there is a difference between being tired “of” your work and being tired “from” your work. One time, when Dwight L. Moody came home, his family said to him, “Cancel your next meeting. You look so weary, and we know you are tired.” He gave this tremendous response, “I am weary in the work, but I am not weary of the work.” Paul says, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart…” Colossians 3:23

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Zephaniah 3:14

All Your Heart!

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
February 26, 2025

The Bible exhorts us to “guard our hearts” because they affect everything we do. Paul tells us to “put our hearts into” every work we do, no matter what it is. Jesus made it clear that the first and most important commandment was love. But he added that we should “love with all our hearts.” The best way to express our love for God is through worship. Music is a key means by which we can express our love for God with all our hearts. Since our hearts represent the seat of our emotions (among other things), it’s something we can let move us. Well, we should let it move us. Love and music have been handmaids forever. The longest song in the Bible, The Song of Solomon, is actually a love song.

To sing to God, to express our love to God in music, we have to put our hearts in it! Music isn’t just a set of sounds. It’s not even simply a set of pleasant sounds with harmony and tempo and all the other features that create what’s essential for any good song. It’s music with a message that moves me. A good piece of music gets inside of you. Kenton Anderson writes, “Evangelicals have a history of suspicion about the physical impact of music. Yet God created music, and he created us. The way that music affects the human body is one of God’s gifts to us. Like any gift, however, it must be used in ways that promote his glory. Instrumental music, or music without words, can produce the same effective result, but when words and music combine, the song truly moves the soul. Truthful lyrics and powerful music can have a healthy effect on each other. The cognitive impact of the words keeps the body’s physical response to the music focused and in line, just as the affective impact of the music keeps the head’s contemplation of the words from being dry and antiseptic.”

Nothing is more boring than to hear someone sing who doesn’t put their heart into it. You don’t need a good voice to express your love for God “with all your heart.” You just need to “let your light shine.” In my genre of music alone, you’ll recognize people with terrible voices who have made millions of dollars as singers. In my opinion, no one had a worse voice than Bob Dillon! Even worse to me was the sound of Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones. Janis Joplin won the hearts of many young Americans with one of the worst female voices ever. But what made them famous was they put their hearts into it. No one could deny that! If you’ve ever seen footage of Janice, you’d know exactly what I mean. Yet, with all her enthusiasm, the “get it while you can” theme of her life had a tragic ending. For the believer, there is a song with a happy ending, a song of salvation and eternal life. The Old Testament prophet says, “Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem!” Zephaniah 3:14

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