Devotional
Blue Sky in the Desert
“A voice of one calling: “In the desert prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” Isaiah 40:3-5
Clothes made of camel’s hair, a leather belt around his waist, and a diet of locusts and honey – one might say that John the Baptist was sort of strange. I say he was a cutting edge kind of guy and not afraid to cut straight to the heart of an important message calling for radical change: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near (Matt. 3:2).” Wouldn’t you have loved to hear this voice that Isaiah speaks of? Who is this man that people went to visit - in the desert of all places?
Pain, confusion, and wandering are often the experiences thought of as being “in the desert” or “in the wilderness.” This is true in my own life too, but as was the case with many biblical leaders, these are the places where I tend to have some really intimate wresting matches with God. It is in the desert that I often recognize my thirst for the sound of His voice and for the touch of His hand. Can the sound of hope rise beyond the feelings of despair and isolation in the desert. Listen for the hope found in Jesus: “every valley shall be raised up (Which valley are you in?), every mountain and hill made low (What mountain are you trying to climb?); the rough ground shall become level (Do things seem rough for you lately?), the rugged places a plain (Are you feeling weary?). What kind of inspiration am I to others when I am in the desert? Are people drawn to me during this time? It seems I can get all caught up in believing this desert experience is all about me instead of God preparing me to be a voice of hope for others in the world. Like John, may I believe that my joy is complete as I become less and Jesus becomes more. Help me Lord to always see the bigger picture – a plan that is beyond my own circumstances.
This voice that people went to hear in the desert, that of John the Baptist, had a purpose of introducing the even greater voice of Jesus Christ. “A voice of one calling:” How often am I called to be the one voice introducing others to Jesus, but choose to remain silent? Lord, remove the things within me that are roadblocks, so that I may be a straight highway for God. Allow me the willingness to go into the desert, when need be, to have intimate meetings with my maker. Thank you that I have heard the greater voice and that I can trust what the Lord has spoken – “the glory of the Lord will be revealed.” And may I always be reminded of the words a friend has often spoken, “There is blue sky straight ahead,” even in the desert.
God, please bless each person that reads this to move through their desert experience with a sense of peace, a sense of joy, and an understanding that their lives are within the framework, but they are not the frame of reference. In the desert Lord, help us to be the voice that proclaims the Blue Sky to the lost ones living among us: A voice of ONE calling.
By Rhonda Baker
Sexual Immorality
“Is there any sugar in it?” The little boy couldn’t have been more than six years old when he was asking his father this question in the video store. I smiled thinking – yeah sweet is good! That’s when his father, seemingly embarrassed, turn to me and said, “He always asks if there’s sugar in whatever looks good. He had a cavity filled and since then he won’t eat any sugar."
Intrigued by this little boy’s resistance, I asked “Did he have a bad experience at the dentist’s office?”
“No,” his father said, “he just doesn’t want any more cavities so he won’t eat any more sugar.”
Hmmm. When Jordan and I were on our way home, I said, “You know Jordan, if we could all have such resistance, there would be a lot less sin and heartache in the world.”
In 1 Corinthians 6:12, Paul writes, “Everything is permissible for me – but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible for me – but I will not be mastered by anything.” His point in this verse and the following passages is that sexual immorality is not an option for Christians. “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body (1 Cor. 6:19-20).”
The sugared candy has an aisle of its own, but if you’re able to resist buying the big bag, there’s a little package right near the counter to tempt you. The Mary Poppins philosophy, “just a spoon full of sugar helps the medicine go down,” can be disastrous. I’ve counseled and prayed with bored homemakers who established affairs over the internet, I’ve counseled and prayed with couples suffering the consequences of one or both of them going somewhere else for a spoon full of sugar. It may have been delightful at the time, but none of them would use that term to describe the consequences. Some of you know what I’m talking about and you could tell the story much better than I can.
I heard someone once say, “Sometimes things just happen.” Well, NO, I DISAGREE – when it comes to sexual immorality, I have a choice. I can choose to honor Satan by giving in to temptation, or, I can honor God by resisting temptation and remaining faithful to my husband. Perhaps the question is, “Who is your master: God or Satan?”
There are decisions that can be made to help prevent extramarital affairs. Decisions like – an affair is not an option for me. Dr. Douglas E. Rosenau in Celebration of Sex writes of having “NO TRESPASSING” signs posted in your life. These are often referred to as boundaries we never cross (i.e., don’t ride alone in the car with a
member of the opposite sex, don’t share intimate marital details with a member of the opposite sex, etc.). The thing is, you know when you’re beginning to cross a line – that’s the Holy Spirit living within you, warning you of a dangerous zone. Pay attention to Him.
If the little boy in the video store continues on in the path he is going, he’ll be able to flee a lot of pain by applying the prevention principle in other areas of his life. No doubt countless people have told him a little bit of sugar won’t hurt anything, yet, he stands strong in the choice to protect his teeth. We need to do the same - protect our marriages and protect the temple of the Holy Spirit, your body, by fleeing from temptation and standing strong. Have a plan in place to resist the temptation that wants to master you. “Delight yourself in the Lord . . . (Ps. 37:4)”.
By Rhonda Baker
Spring Makeover
Her tiny guiding and grasping fingers took hold of my aging hand and formed it perfectly to her little round face. Most children have stuffed animals or soft blankets, but this little girl chooses human touch over any other form of comfort to surrender herself to dreamland.
My cell phone ringing pushes a button of hesitation within me. If I begin talking, this precious little girl in my arms now settling in to rest will be stirred by this interruption. A quick glance at the caller I.D. is long enough to inform me that a friend needs prayer. My free hand takes hold of the phone. The voice is a familiar one - a gentle, and kind woman beaten down by the consequences of sin. My heart still stirs with compassion as I listen. God bends his ear and the powerful presence of the Holy Spirit is evident as I pray with a grown woman held in one hand and a tiny girl in the other. As the final amen is said, the woman is grateful and the babe is now asleep.
How does God manage so much in such little time??? I’ve had a Spring Makeover today – a spiritual one with all the divine appointments necessary. I offered the only thing I had to give Him – myself. I would have missed one divine appointment if I had told my friend I was too busy to care for her baby. I would have missed another divine appointment by not answering the cell phone for fear of interrupting this child’s nap time. I might have missed my spiritual makeover for the day but I didn’t. Yea God! When I put my head on the pillow tonight, I am changed once again by the Makeover Artist. My journal will say, “YES, it’s been a good day – ALL divine appointments kept. I’ve connected with the ONE original designer who gave me hands, ears, and a voice that were used today.” NO, I didn’t change the world or even a church, but I’ve heard it said that there are some really good benefits to taking the steps instead of the elevator every day. It’s been a long hard winter, but Spring is here – and I’m thankful that more has changed than the time. “His eye is on the sparrow.”
By Rhonda Baker
Wet With His Love
“Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.”
John 13:14-15
I wanted to take my stepfather on the ride of his life. We were at the Rockford water park and though he had never done anything like this before, I talked him into going on the biggest and wildest roller coaster water slide. As we were standing in line, I glanced up and saw the warning signs that read something like “WARNING, if you have a heart condition . . .” I questioned myself, should I be doing this? – what if he has a heart attack while we’re on this ride? – I’d never forgive myself. I remember praying for him.
About that time, I noticed something else. There were some teenagers
looking at us and instantly I knew they were making fun of us. Being the
conscientious person that I am, the only thing I could think of was that
there must have been something wrong with my swimsuit. A quick check
informed me my swimsuit was all in place. Whew!!! Then I noticed they
weren’t laughing at me, they were looking and laughing at my
stepfather’s feet. At this time in his life, his feet were very aged and
worn. To those teenagers they would have appeared ugly – old yellowed
toenails, bunions beyond hope. They would have appeared atrocious to
these young people.
As a daughter who loved her stepfather very much, I saw his feet very
differently. They were beautiful. These were the feet that walked me
down the aisle to be married. These were feet that stood still when they
could have saved me from making a lot of mistakes and never learning
from them. These were the feet that stood in a machine shop for over 35
years to provide for a family. These were the feet that took on a second
job after coming home from the first - one that some would say is
humiliating - to drive a cab – to take many other people to their
desired locations – while never once revealing his own desires. These
are the feet that taught me how to drive a stick shift – oh these poor
tired feet. These are the feet that had taught me many lessons about
being a humble servant.
Jesus teaches the same lesson in John 13:1-17 when he washes the
disciples’ feet. No one else had volunteered to perform this well-known
custom. It wasn’t just any servant that washed feet, but usually the one
in the house who ranked the lowest. The servant would wash feet that are
not confined to shoes like we have today, but rather, would get very
dirty exposed to the dusty roads. Part of me wants to believe that Jesus
would have had fun tickling a few of them, but of course this is not
recorded. It’s a very serious teaching time as Jesus tells them to
continue on with the example he is giving them – to serve one another.
Melanoma took my stepfather’s life about four years after his outrageous
ride with me. I was blessed to be by his side again, reading the 23rd
Psalm and praying him into another ride - the arms of Jesus. I will
always remember him for teaching me what is so evident in Scripture –
that serving God – that serving others only takes a towel, a basin, and
a dripping heart that is wet with His love.
By Rhonda Baker
Traffic Jam Reflections
All of us can relate to times in life when we’re on our way to specific destinations within specific timeframes with specific people (we have life all mapped out) – but on the way, we’re completely stopped and may not even be able to see what has caused this sudden jam. It is then, we can become completely frustrated and angry for having no control – or, we can thank God for this time, reflect, and prepare for the next part of our journey. - Rhonda
What will you do at the line?
"This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you. This is the very best way to love. Put your life on the line for your friends. You are my friends when you do the things I command you. I'm no longer calling you servants because servants don't understand what their master is thinking and planning. No I've named you friends because I've let you in on everything I've heard from the Father. You didn't choose me, remember; I chose you, and put you in the world to bear fruit, fruit that won't spoil. As fruit bearers,, whatever you ask the Father in relation to me, he gives you. "But remember the root command: Love one another."
(John 15:12-17, The MSG)
Just when we think we have this servant-Master thing figured out, there goes Jesus – changing the language on us. He no longer calls us servants, He calls us friends. A servant might only do something out of obligation because they have to be obedient. A true friend on the other hand, would naturally, out of their love for the other, put themselves at risk in order to help someone they deeply cared for even if it means self-sacrifice. There are times even as friends though, we see things very differently. What one experiences as hurt, the other thought would eventually help. And then there’s this problem of not being able to read another person’s mind – and they won’t tell you anything. Jesus is the kind of friend we should all long to have and to be like – a straight shooter – He doesn’t keep secrets. He says, “I’ve named you friends because I’ve let you in on everything I’ve heard from the Father:” another privilege we have in our relationship with Him. We will all come to a line where we need to choose the kind of relationship we will have with Jesus and with others. Jesus put His life on the line and He did it with self-sacrificing love. Loving Jesus and loving one another with the kind of love He showed us: this is the bull’s-eye we should be aiming for.
By Rhonda Baker
