January 5 Complaints
A pastor who is well known among many Christian people used to have a unique way of handling complaints and gossip among those who came to him bearing such tales. He would take out what he called his “complaint book”, tell the complainant to slowly make his criticism while he wrote it all down. Then after the pastor had written down the choice morsel of criticism he would turn the book around toward the complainant and say, “Now you sign this and as soon as I have time, I will discuss these matters with the person involved!” The pastor said in 40 years had had made hundreds of entries in his book but he had never had anyone sign a complaint. That is why the Bible says, “If a man be overtaken in a fault, restore him, you who are spiritual restore such a one in the spirit of meekness; considering yourself, lest you also be tempted.” (Galatians 6:1)
Read: Galatians 6: 2 - 10
Lord, thank you for your patience with me and for your forgiveness of my failures. I am all too ready to find fault in others when I so easily serve my own sinful nature. Deliver me, I pray from my readiness to be more a critic than a healer.
January 7 New Is New
Do you have the same problem I do during the first few days of a new year? Time and again, I will date checks and letters, automatically, just as I have for the better part of the twelve preceding months. I will catch myself, in this force of habit, and think, “But it just doesn’t feel like a new year”. Whether it seems like one or not, the year is a new one. Sometimes, Christians have to be reminded of a similar truth about themselves. Because Jesus Christ has been invited into our lives, we are new persons…. new born…. living in the privilege of a newness of life. Of course, we do not always feel like new people, but we are new creations in Christ Jesus, whether we feel like it or not. Perhaps this is a good time to underscore some truths about the nature of our salvation: Salvation is predicated upon what God has accomplished, not upon how we feel at a given moment. Salvation is not fully realized in our daily living until it is lived out on a daily basis. Salvation can become increasingly fresh or increasingly commonplace according to how significant our relationship to Christ is day by day. But in time, they will have no more newness than that which we claim from it, living one new day at a time. I suppose that truth is what gives real dimensions to Biblical admonitions like: “This is the day the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24)
Read: Romans 6: 3 - 6
Father God, I can’t really trust my feelings, but I can trust your Word. You tell me with Jesus as my Savior I don’t have to feel new only realize I am new. Help me to live “new” today.
January 9 Tuning The Keys
I am no musician, but I understand that a piano gets out of tune by hard use, among other things. The constant striking of the keys, which in turn, strike the strings, causes the loosening of those strings. So from time to time, the strings need adjusting if they are to produce good sounds. By the same token, common everyday experiences have a way of pounding upon us until they have an exhausting effect. We can become so accustomed to the discordant sounds of repeated sin that we lose our ear for godliness. The forfeiture of a consistent prayer life can take from us a sense of something missing. That’s why we need the tuning and adjusting which a daily quiet time with God can provide. Do you pray every day? The Bible says, “In quietness and confidence is your strength.” Get alone with God today and get your heartstrings tuned up!
Read: Isaiah 30: 12 - 15
Heavenly Father, Satan wants so much to keep us apart. Keep me alert to his tactics and distractions. I ask for your constant reminder to find time and a place to alone with you.
January 10 The Lesson of a Broken Window
The Bible says that if a person commits one sin he breaks the whole law of God. But how can that be? How can one lie or one theft destroy the whole of God’s law? Well…if someone threw a rock at a windowpane, the rock would actually strike the glass in only one specific spot, but, tell me, what would happen to the whole widow pane? Of course, the pane would be broken, even though the rock struck it in but one place. The point is that we cannot minimize our need of God’s forgiveness by minimizing our sins. Nor can we reduce our guilt by comparing the severity of one sin to the severity of another. A Holy God cannot countenance any sin regardless how minor we may think it is. All of us have broken God’s law and in doing so have broken God’s heart. Nevertheless, He wants to forgive us and we need for Him to do it.
Read: Romans 3: 10 - 23
Holy and gracious God, I come to you with an honest attempt to see the sin in my life as you see it. I want my confession and repentance to heal the brokenness of your heart.