Manna in the Morning

“Speak of the Devil!” Now there’s an appropriate phrase to consider...this being October 31st and all. Such an expression is used when someone enters the room unexpectedly or maybe they were expected but not at the precise time they entered. At any rate, when the expression is used one isn’t actually referring to the Devil, himself. As my mom used to say, “It’s just an expression!” Actually, the phrase has been around for quite a while dating even back to the Middle Ages. It is a shortened form of an old English proverb that said, “Speak of the Devil and he doth appear.” Truth is the idea of the Devil has been diminished in our society...that is, except at Halloween time. Tonight you’re likely to see all sorts of devilment: witches, skeletons, ghosts, goblins, zombies, and of course, caricatures of the devil in his bright red suit with horns and sporting a pitchfork. Such playfulness has caused many to deny the Devil’s existence or at least not take him very seriously. The Bible, however, makes it clear that he is real...and he does “prowl around like a lion” bent on destruction. He has power but God is greater! God’s Word says that if we “resist him he will flee.” And another wonderful verse to remember is, “Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world.” (I John 4:4) So rather than “speaking of the Devil,” I think it would be far better to speak of Jesus Christ! Don’t you agree?

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son...” is probably the most well-known verse of the Bible. But we should never let it’s familiarity diminish its meaning and importance. This verse describes for us the amazing love that God has for mankind that He has created in His image. Though man has rebelled against God’s law and often spurned His love... yet, God’s love is steadfast and real. Spurgeon used to tell of a farmer who had a weather vane on his barn with the motto, “God is love.” He was asked if the motto was intended to suggest that God is as changeable as the wind. To which the farmer replied, “Oh, no! It means that no matter which was the wind blows, God is love.” No matter which way the wind blows... no matter how hard it blows... we can depend on the love of a faithful and steadfast God in whom we can find shelter and protection.

There is an old church camp chorus that asked, “Are you downhearted?” The reply was to be sung with emphasis, “NO! NO! NO!” When the Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Galatia he was encouraging them in their walk with Christ. One of the things he wrote was, “And let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary.” (Galatians 6:9) There are a great many things that tend to drag our spirits down. This world in which we live is not really conducive to victorious living. Problems and adverse circumstances sometimes overwhelm us. But, when our faith is in the One who is coming, “conquering and to conquer,” we are able to soar as eagles by trusting in God’s power. One of my favorite Psalms is Psalm 43 which ends with this question and its answer: “Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again—my Savior and my God!” (Psalm 43:5). Trusting in our Lord can defeat discouragement. Jesus said, “Take heart, because I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

It is reported that Gertrude Stein asked on her deathbed, “What is the answer?” Then, after a long silence asked, “What is the question?” When one reads the Bible a number of very important questions become known. Such as, “What is man profited if he gain the whole world but loses his own soul?” (Matthew 16:26) “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31) “What is truth?” (John 18:38) “What does a man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun?” (Ecclesiastes 1:3)“Who is my neighbor?” (Luke 10:29) “What shall I do with him you call the King of the Jews?” (Mark 15:12) “What shall I do to inherit eternal life?” (Luke 10:25) We would do well to ponder and respond to the questions that the Bible raises. There is coming a day when all questions will have been asked and all the answers will have been given. Don’t be caught with unanswered questions. Jesus is the final answer!

It is an interesting observation that the Bible begins with a world of Darkness and the Gospels come to a climax in the ministry of Jesus with a pervading darkness that covers the land at midday. But just as the darkness of the opening verses of Genesis yields to the creation of Light on the first day of creation... so also the Gospels crescendo into the glorious Light of the Resurrection on the First Day of the Week when Jesus rose from the dead. There are days when darkness begins to creep into our lives but we need to remember that God is greater by far than any darkness that may be in our world. The first verses of John’s Gospel remind us that “In Him [Jesus] was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overpower it.” (John 1:4,5) There’s an old hymn entitled “Stepping in the Light.” That’s what we are doing when we are following Jesus Christ, who is the Light of the world. So, you see we don’t need to be afraid of the dark... we just need to keep stepping in the light!

Are you aware of the fact that there is someone who doesn’t want you to have a good day today? Are you aware of the fact that you have an enemy who is ready to take away your peace of mind as well as your joy? Do you know that someone is going to do everything he can today to get you to sin and be unfaithful to God? Surely by now you guess who that someone is... (and, you’re right) the devil. His vicious nature is described in I Peter 5:8, “Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” So, we need to be “careful out there!” But we have a wonderful promise that we need to remember. It’s found in I Corinthians 10:13,14: “God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your strength, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape.” Yes, it’s true... Satan wants to destroy our relationship with God and he’ll use most anything to accomplish it. But, “greater is He that is within us than he that is in the world!” (I John 4:4) So, if we are faithful to God we do not have to fear what the devil may try to do. In fact, the Bible says, “If we resist him and he will run away!” (James 4:7)

The death toll in Japan continues to rise and probably will for some time. The devastation is beyond our grasp. While the damage is being assessed the big question continues to be asked, “Why?” Why does a God that is reputed to be loving and just allow such disasters to occur in His world? As a part of the answer to that question one needs to read the first three chapters of the Bible to be reminded that the world that God created was good... in fact, very good, until sin entered. God granted man a free-will to choose good or evil. In choosing to sin the world in which we live became infected until God provided the cure through His Son, Jesus Christ. Before sin there was only harmony and beauty. After sin entered there was disharmony and ugliness. Evil and suffering are alien intrusions into God’s good world. The Bible says that even creation itself groans for that day when God will once again put all things right and evil will be eradicated. Between now and then Jesus said we will have tribulation and troubles. He followed that statement with, “Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world!” (John 16:33) A good friend of mine prayed this prayer the Sunday after 9/11, “Bad things happen... but God is still good.” Our prayer is that the people of Japan will turn to God for the strength that He can provide to endure this present crises.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son...” (John 3:16). Jesus said to his disciples, “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love...I command you to love each other in the same way that I love you.” (John 15:9,12). Today is Valentine’s Day and all sorts of words and messages of love will be exchanged by lovers. But there is no greater Valentine or Message of love in all of the world than the one that was sent from heaven to earth and demonstrated itself not in the form of a Cupid’s heart with an arrow shot through it...but rather a cross atop a hill called Calvary spattered in blood from God’s dear Son. There is an old story about a love-lorn lass who dreamed about love but did not find it. She engraved in the bark of an old oak tree a heart with the words, “To whoever finds this, I love you.” God wrote a message with the blood of his Son...”To whoever finds this, I love you.” And, you know what? It’s still true!

Billy Strayhorn shares an old story, about a little boy who cried out in the night. "Daddy, I'm scared!" Half awake Daddy said, "Don't be afraid, Daddy's right across the hall." There was a brief pause and the little boy called out, "I'm still scared." So Daddy pulled out the big guns, "You don't have to be afraid, God is with you. God loves you." The pause was longer but the little boy called out again, "I don't care about God, Daddy; I want someone with skin on!"

God knew we needed that assurance of someone with skin on. So God wrapped all the glory of heaven into the flesh and blood of Jesus and stepped into this world as the Good Shepherd just to show us how much we are loved. The first chapter of John’s Gospel states that “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” The Message translation reads, “The Word became flesh and blood and moved in to the neighborhood.” (John 1:11) Our God is not detached and unconcerned. Neither is He capricious or unapproachable. Our God is Holy, yet involved. He is absolutely Righteous and also full of Grace. On top of all that we have Jesus promise, “I will never leave you nor forsake you!”