Releasing Resentment: November 2nd Devotional

Releasing Resentment 

Ephesians 4:31-32

November 2nd Devotional

      On this day in 1880, James Garfield was elected as the 20th president of the United States.  James was the youngest of five children.  He was born in a log cabin in Ohio and would end up being the last of the log cabin presidents.  His father died after saving the family farm from a raging wildfire.  James was only two at the time.   His father’s death caused the family to suffer through abject poverty.  Childhood was extremely difficult for James.  He was often picked on and found comfort by reading for countless hours.  Books became his best friends.  His love for reading formed a love for learning in general.  He excelled in college, especially in the subjects of Latin, Greek, and mathematics.  He worked as a janitor, preacher, and canal man to pay off his education.  Garfield remains the only president who was an ordained pastor.  His faith would continue to grow throughout his life.  He was in church so often that his future assassin thought about attacking him at church.  He would continue his education, later becoming the president of Hiram College.  But politics drew him from full-time ministry and the education field.  He joined the newly formed Republican party because of its aversion to slavery.  He was elected to the Ohio Legislature in 1859.  While serving he joined the Union effort during the Civil War.  He proved to be a very distinguished soldier during the Tennessee theater of the war.  He served so well that he was named a Major General.  After the war he continued to serve in the House of Representatives, fighting for reconstruction.  The Republican convention convened in 1880 and Garfield wasn’t supposed to be a nominee, but his speakers enchanted those that were in attendance.  James argued against his nomination but after thirty-six ballots he became the dark horse candidate.  His excellent oratory skills helped him defeat his Democratic opponent, Winfield Scott Hancock (a fellow Union General).  He was by a narrow 11,000 votes, less than .1% more than his opponent.  Garfield’s tenure started with great promise. He also happened to be the first left handed president. He was a strong leader and an excellent speaker, but his presidency was cut short when Charles J. Guiteau shot the president twice.  His primary motivation was resentment for not being offered a position to serve under Garfield.  James suffered for weeks until he succumbed to an infection.  He served a mere 199 days, marking his presidency as the second shortest.

      James Garfield’s life was cut short because someone was resentful.  Resentment is like drinking poison and hoping that it harms someone else.  We’ve all felt that powerful emotion.  We have felt robbed, unfairly treated, ignored, overlooked.  It might be a job where we aren’t given a promotion or a scorned love, or maybe we feel like others have taken advantage of us.  What do we do when those dark thoughts creep into our mind?  Do we allow them to take our mind captive?  Instead, we are to put them away.  Paul told the church of Ephesus “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, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you (Ephesians 4:31-32).”  Paul powerfully says put this away.  Bitterness, wrath, anger, etc cannot be tolerated in the life of the Christian.  Yes, we might be disappointed, and yes we might feel scorned, but that does not give us a license to allow those emotions to overwhelm our lives.  We need to put them away.  Most of us are putting away summer clothes during this month because we won’t need shorts and swimming trunks.  They aren’t needed.  The same can be said about resentment, we put it away because we don’t need it.  It doesn’t benefit it, it only harms us.  Instead, Paul says to be kind, tenderhearted, and to forgive.  Those are the harder things to do.  It causes us to take our focus off who offended us and instead to have the mind of Christ.  The next time feelings of bitterness or resentment wash over your soul, put them away, right away.  Put on kindness and love.  There are no regrets when we love like Jesus.  

Prepared for Battle: June 4th Devotional

 Prepared for Battle

Genesis Chapter Four

June 4th Devotional

      This day in history marks the first major day of conflict during the Battle of Midway. The Battle of Midway earned its name because it took place on the Midway Aleutian islands, which was a military base located between America and Japan. This WW II battle was fought in the Pacific between the Japanese Imperial Navy and the United States Navy. It took place a mere six months after Pearl Harbor. The goal of the Japanese Navy was to destroy the American naval presence in the area. The American Navy was already reeling from the effects of Pearl Harbor. Pitted against each other was Admiral Isaraku Yamamoto who oversaw the imperial Japanese Navy and Chester Nimitz who oversaw the American naval fleet. Interestingly, overseeing the Japanese aircraft carriers was Admiral Chuchi Nagumo who helped coordinate the attack on Pearl Harbor. The American Navy was prepared for the battle due to breaking the Japanese naval code. They knew when and where the attack was going to take place. On the day of the battle the Japanese Navy greatly outnumbered the American Navy. They had over 300 aircraft, multiple battleships, submarines in the vicinity, and four aircraft carriers. The Japanese Navy boasted an undefeated record for 50 years. All expectations were on the Japanese to win the battle. But due to great preparation and the use of radar on the ground, the American forces were able to defeat the Japanese in a matter of four days. They destroyed all the Japanese aircraft carriers and aircraft that were engaged, and over 3500 Japanese soldiers died. The Battle of Midway is considered the turning point in the Battle of the Pacific. It provided much-needed confidence to the American Navy and started a slow fade of power for the Japanese Imperial Navy

       What gave the Americans the advantage was a warning that the enemy was coming. The Bible warns us about a coming attack from our enemy too. In Genesis chapter 4 two brothers made an offering to God.  One brother, Abel made a right offering to God, while Cain made an offering that was rejected. In turn, Cain was filled with hatred and anger. God came to Cain and said in Genesis 4:7 "If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door." Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it. God tells Cain that sin is crouching at the door ready to attack. God gave the warning and Cain refused to hear it. The next day he shed his innocent brother's blood. Cain is not the only person to have sin knocking at the door. Every day sin crouches at the door of our hearts, ready to pounce. Sin doesn't need a big opening in the door. If we give sin an inch it takes a mile. God warned us to be prepared. We become prepared for the attack by being in prayer, reading the Word, and enjoying sweet fellowship with God's people. The warning has been given, get prepared to do battle.

The Power of Words: May 28th Devotional

The Power of Words

Proverbs 18:21

May 28th Devotional

      Noah Webster was born in 1758, in Hartford Connecticut. His family had a rich pedigree in American history. Noah excelled at learning and entered Yale University at the age of 15. His father mortgaged their home to send him to college. While learning at Yale Noah joined the Connecticut militia. Upon graduation, Noah took the Bar examination and became a lawyer but despised practicing law. He quickly spiraled into a deep depression until he started working in the newspaper industry. He was eventually asked by Alexander Hamilton to be the editor of the Pro Revolutionary newspaper called the Federalist. Webster was an adamant supporter of the revolution. Over time he became an advocate for public education. He became a teacher and eventually printed the Blue Backed Speller which would be the best-selling book used by teachers (selling over 100 million copies). He also served in the Connecticut House of Representatives along with other ventures into printing but his Magnum Opus was the American Dictionary in the English Language. He started the project in 1802 and it took him 26 years to complete. During this time Webster learned over 28 languages. His dictionary had over 70,000 words, 12,000 of which had never been published in a dictionary before. His dictionary was not the first of its kind but was the most complete and scholarly work. Tragically it only sold 2500 copies and he needed to mortgage his home to produce a second edition. Webster struggled financially most of his life and by the end of his life, he was destitute.

      Webster spent his entire life studying the etymology of words, dedicating himself to understanding what they mean. Webster understood the value and power of words, and the Bible speaks about the power of words too. The Bible tells us in Proverbs 18:21 "Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits." You've heard the proverbial phrase "Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me." That statement is rife with errors on so many different levels. Words do hurt, sometimes more than a physical wound, and take longer to heal. Words that hurt are often spoken by people that we love and care about. The words we speak can either be a construction crew building people up, or a destruction crew, destroying other people. Words have the power of life and death. Examine the words you have spoken so far today, are they construction and life-giving? Or are they destroying and bringing death? Today, purposefully speak words of life to EVERYONE around you, regardless of who they are.

The War is Over: April 9th Devotional

The War is Over

John 19:30

April 9th Devotional

      In 1865 General Robert E. Lee traveled to Appomattox Courthouse in Virginia to meet with Union General U.S. Grant. Early that morning Lee was still holding out hope to escape the Union army, but he quickly found himself boxed in and greatly outnumbered. The time had come to surrender. The war drug on for over four years, splitting the United States into two separate nations. The cost of the war was great, over 620,000 soldiers died during that time. Two days prior Grant sent a letter to Lee stating his desire to avoid the further effusion of blood and placed the invitation for surrender at Lee’s feet. Lee dreaded this day. He said that he would rather die a thousand deaths than surrender, but he knew what was best for his soldiers. His men were tired, they were ragged, and they were deserting the army daily. Lee arrived at the McLean House and Grant followed thirty minutes later. Lee was in his best-dressed uniform, and Grant entered with his dirty uniform. This was a perfect contrast between the two great leaders.  The meeting was naturally awkward and after a few minutes of conversation about the Mexican-American War, the conversation turned to surrender. Grant had sent out letters before the meeting writing about some potential conditions for surrender but he feared the worst. He worried that his men would be severely punished, but Grant was extremely graceful. Lee simply wanted them to sign terms of surrender, he would parole prisoners, allow Confederate soldiers to keep their weapons and horses, and give Union rations to the starving Confederate army. It was considered a gentlemen’s agreement with little pomp and circumstance. Upon leaving General Grant told his staff, “The war is over, the rebels are our countrymen again.” It was time for the nation to heal, recover, and be made whole again.

      The definition of surrender is to “cease resistance to an enemy or opponent and submit to their authority.” The image of quitting is implied. Most of us don’t like quitting or acknowledging defeat. We have a disdain for it. We don’t like to admit that we aren’t strong enough, talented enough, smart enough, or good enough. We hate raising the white flag. The feeling of shame overwhelms us in those moments. The Bible talks about a type of surrender that is good for us, that’s necessary for us. Surrendering is a battle term and we are in a spiritual battle. We live in a world that is at spiritual war with God, us included. We have fought against Him, we have denied His overtures of grace and forgiveness. The battle is over sin and self.  We are fallen creatures that are unable to rescue our sinful souls. We can try to be moral, religious, ethical, and good but none of that will end the war that is encompassing us. We will continue to battle until we surrender, until we give up until we raise the white flag to God. Remember that surrender means to cease fighting and to give up your rights to a conqueror. 

We need to come to a moment of repentance. We need to come to a moment when we are broken over our sinfulness. We need to come to a moment when we are finally willing to admit that we are fighting a battle that we cannot win. We need to surrender. We need to admit that we are defeated and undone. We need to come to Christ for the forgiveness of sin. This concept reminds me of John 19:30.  Jesus hung on the cross, suspended between heaven and earth, suffering and dying for our sins.  Jesus said from the cross, it is finished, and gave up His life.  The price had been paid in full, the victory had been bought, we simply have to come and surrender to Jesus by faith.  After we submit to Christ, we will find a similar thought that Grant expressed to Lee, the war is over, and we are God’s family now. Friend, have you surrendered to Jesus yet? Have you trusted Him by faith? Is the war over or are you still fighting? Submit to Him today and have Christ live in you.