Righteousness One-a-Day Thursday 8/13/20

Posted on by August 13, 2020
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A life worthy

…with the breastplate of righteousness in place, (Eph. 6:14b)

The breastplate is essential protective gear.  Cops wear a Kevlar vest. Baseball catchers wear a chest protector.  Even Batman has anatomically correct upper body armor. Why is it so important to protect the chest?

Because your heart is in there.

In a very literal sense, you can’t live without your heart—so eat right and get plenty of exercise.  In the metaphoric sense, the heart is the center of our being, the part that makes us…us. As you go out into a sinful, broken, fallen world, how do you protect this essential part of your being?

The righteousness of Christ.  The right relationship with God that is yours through Christ, and which gives you a right understanding of who you are and how much you are loved.  This, and this alone, will protect your heart from the blows of this twisted world.

Remember, I’m not talking about your own righteousness…the place with God you might think you’ve earned by your good behavior.  Count on that to protect your heart, and you might as well try to stop an arrow with a wet paper towel. No, I’m talking about the righteousness of the Lord of Everything.

But Michael–how can this mighty piece of armor fit my spindly little self?

It’s a mystery…just go with it.

Happy Thursday, Beloved

Truth One-a-Day Wednesday 8/12/20

Posted on by August 12, 2020
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Stand firm, then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist…(Ephesians 6:14a)

If it isn’t true…

If God did not send his only begotten son to Earth…if Jesus did not die for our sins…if he did not rise from the grave…if he is not seated at the right hand of the Father making intercession for you and me…

Then it’s all a lie.

My faith is a joke.  My salvation is a sham.  My righteousness is totally pointless. The peace I have with God is nothing but a delusion.  Nothing that I do matters, because in the end I am nothing.

If it isn’t true.

But…

it is true.

All of it.

And when I buckle that truth around me, my faith becomes a shield, my salvation a helmet, my righteousness the guardian of my heart, peace with God the shoes that help me stand.

As you head into your day, know this, Beloved: It is true.

Happy Wednesday

The Full Armor One-a-Day Tuesday 8/11/20

Posted on by August 11, 2020
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A life worthy

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. (Ephesians 6:13)

Words that intrigue me in this verse of Scripture (just in case you were wondering):

Full  Half measures won’t suffice.  You have to put on all the armor; if you leave a vulnerable spot, your enemy will find it and use it to hurt you.  He is far more experienced at this sort of thing than you are.

When  As in, “When the day of evil comes.”  Don’t think in terms of “if.” If you live in California, the big earthquake will happen.  If you’re on the East Coast, the hurricane will happen. If you live on this planet, Evil will come for you.  Don’t pretend…prepare.

Stand Not leap.  Not fly. Not dance.  Stand. The day of evil will leave you bloody but not broken, drained but not destroyed.  When the tempest recedes, if you stand in Christ, you will stand.

If you stand in Christ,

you

will

stand.

Happy Tuesday, Beloved

Enemy One-a-Day Monday 8/10/20

Posted on by August 10, 2020
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A life worthy

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.  (Ephesians 6:12)

Ever have that nightmare where you’re being chased by a terrible monster, and no matter how fast you run it keeps getting closer and closer, and you’re absolutely powerless to stop it?

Or the one where it’s like you’re in a movie and you keep hitting the bad guy but it turns out he’s not really human but some kind of sci fi spooky robot monster kind of thing so everything passes right through him and you can’t seem to touch him but he’s about to touch you and that will be the end of you and you are absolutely powerless to stop him?

It’s kinda like that.

Only worse, because it’s real.

Physical skills cannot suffice against spiritual evil.  And that’s what you and I face each day as we go about our business.

Your only hope, my only hope, the only hope, is to let the righteous power of God guard us.

Don’t get macho about this.  There’s too much at stake.

Happy Monday, Beloved

Armor One-a-Day Friday 8/7/20

Posted on by August 7, 2020
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A life worthy

Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.  (Ephesians 6:11).

Many moons ago, my kids got invited to go quadding with some family and friends. Their uncle, who was in charge of the outing, made sure that everyone was outfitted with protective gear. Helmet, gloves, goggles, chest protector—you didn’t ride if you weren’t protected.

It was a good thing, too.  One of the boys took an epic fall.  All that gear that he was wearing saved his bacon, not to mention his head, chest, etc.  He was knocked around and shaken up; without his armor, he could have been seriously injured.

An interesting note: it wasn’t his armor.  The gear was provided for him free of charge by someone who knew what dangers he faced, knew what would protect him, and wanted to keep him safe.

The quad, the hills, the rocks—they weren’t out to get anybody. They were simply passive objects that presented a hazard. You have an enemy who is anything but passive.

Is your gear on?

Happy Friday, Beloved.

Strength One-a-Day Thursday 8/6/20

Posted on by August 6, 2020
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A life worthy

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power (Ephesians 6:10).

How many pushups can you do?  How fast can you run? How far can you throw some large, heavy thing that needs throwing?

Doesn’t matter.

It’s not enough.

Hey, Mr. Cross-Training, Kickboxing, Black-Belt-Ninja-Man…it’s not enough.

No matter how expert, how brilliant, how talented you are, your powers are puny.   There are forces arrayed against you that are beyond your comprehension, much less your strength.  You can’t stand up to them—they will crush you to powder. You are no match for the least of them.

So don’t try to be.

You see, there is a God in Heaven, a God who makes all the forces of Hell itself look as weak and pathetic as…well, as you.  And he offers you his strength. He offers you his power. He wants you to stand in him today, putting on his power like a suit of armor. With him, in him, through him, you are invincible.

It’s a rough world out there.  Better suit up.

Happy Thursday, Beloved

Master One-a-Day Wednesday 8/5/20

Posted on by August 5, 2020
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A life worthy

And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him (Ephesians 6:9).

You know how some people can get all jazzed over a little bit of power? Maybe they’re on the plant committee of the HOA, or they’re the assistant shift manager of the local Wendy’s, or maybe a pillow fluffer at a nursing home.

Perhaps a 7th grade history teacher.

They take their little bit of power and suddenly become Genghis Vader, the Mongol force-choker from space?

Don’t be that way–God doesn’t like it.

Happy Wednesday, Beloved.

Who’s the Boss One-a-Day Tuesday 8/4/20

Posted on by August 5, 2020
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A life worthy

Obey them, not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free  (Ephesians 6:6-8).

So we’ve established that you’re not a slave, although that may be difficult to believe some days.

But you probably have a boss, and these verses fit the boss-employee relationship, too.

It’s simple, really: you just have to imagine that your boss is the Lord.

Wait…are you laughing or crying?  I can’t tell.

I don’t know if you have a good boss or not, but I do know that “My boss is a jerk” is no excuse for failing to do your work wisely and well. If you have any doubts about that, I have one word for you.

Joseph

If anyone ever had an excuse for skating by and doing the minimum, it would have been he. But Joseph knew that, no matter who signed his paychecks, he had one Master.

You work for God, Beloved.  He redeemed you–that means he purchased you.  You have accepted him as Lord–that means he is your master. So whoever signs your paychecks, you only really ever have one boss. Work for him today…and give him all you’ve got.

Happy Tuesday, Beloved.

Slaves One-a-Day Monday 8/3/20

Posted on by August 3, 2020
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A life worthy

Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ  (Ephesians 6:5).

I’ve never been a slave.

I’m gonna figure you haven’t been either.

So…kinda hard to identify with this one.

Yes, there’s the comparison to the boss-employee relationship, and I’ll explore that tomorrow, but really?

Not  the same.

Because your boss doesn’t own you. He just thinks he does.

So consider this, Beloved. Whatever hard thing you’re facing today, whatever difficult point of submission, whatever impossible area of trust, whatever grueling act of humility you are called to today…you are not anyone’s slave.

Unless you make yourself one

And remember that your act of obedience, or trust, or humility, or whatever, is actually directed to Christ. Just as the wife submits to Christ through her husband, and the child submits to Christ through his parents, so you submit to Christ today through this difficult act.

Look, if Jesus appeared before you in bodily form and asked you to get him a ham sandwich, you’d do it

even if you’re Jewish.

So, if he appears before you in the form of…

Fill in the blank, and act accordingly.

Happy Monday, Beloved.

Relationship One-a-Day Friday 7/31/20

Posted on by July 31, 2020
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A life worthy

Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord  (Ephesians 6:4).

I teach middle school.

You’re welcome.

In the era of COVID, I’ve been in a lot of how-do-we-get-back-to-school teacher meetings, and one of the major areas of focus has been how to build relationships even though we’re teaching from a distance. The big idea is that kids learn better if they have a positive relationship with their teacher.  I have some questions about the validity of this in a classroom setting–even a traditional one. I learned plenty in school, and don’t recall many significant teacher relationships. For that matter, my wife aced her AP test and refers to her teacher as a slave driver.

Be that as it may, I have no doubt that this idea is spot on when it comes to the home. Fathers, our job is to bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. The stuff we’re teaching goes way beyond number sense and punctuation. We’re teaching life, and life eternal. That takes a relationship that is honest and deep and close and open to vulnerability. Hence the do not exasperate your children part of this verse. A frustrated, isolated, embittered child is not gonna be open to Life Lessons with Daddy.

Basically, if they are going to learn from you, they have to believe you.

So be someone they can believe.

Happy Friday, Beloved.