Illustration For Devotional: "Do You Know Where You're Going To"

"I Left Trophimus...In Miletus"

"Erastus stayed in Corinth, and I left Trophimus sick in Miletus."  (2 Timothy 4:20, NIV)

Sometimes you have to do that, you know; leave that, "Trophimus," in your life.

So there you are with, "Trophimus."  Now what?  Do you stay and keep trying to get him healed, get that situation resolved, fasting more, praying more?  Or, as Paul, do you move on?

What is that, "Trophimus," in your life today of which you need to say, "I left...in Miletus," a person, shattered dreams, a prophetic word from so long ago never fulfilled?  If you don't leave it, it will follow you all your days, dragging at you, perhaps condemning you, keeping you from operating at your full potential in life.  You had so many plans for you and, "Trophimus," so many dreams.  But there he/it is, sick, a situation which just will not cooperate with what you want.  Now what?

You can do what our Lord Jesus spoke to my heart so many years ago when my, "Trophimus," would not stop being, "sick," and succumbed to that sickness.  As I was in what Bunyan called, "the Slough of Despond," Jesus said to me, "You can sit here the rest of your life and pity yourself; or, you can get up and follow Me."  Only Jesus and His compassionate Words could get me to, "le[ave] Trophimus sick in Melitus."

48 years have come and gone, and my heart keeps going back to, "Trophimus sick in Miletus."  But in my heart is Jesus, He Who keeps, "Trophimus," in His Eternal Care, waiting for me to join him in that great "Meeting In The Air."  Maybe it is something else for you.  The hymn says, "Tell it to Jesus, He is a Friend that's well known."  If Jesus is, "well known" to you, you know what to do.  Lay down that, "Trophimus," at Jesus' Feet.  Walk out of, "Miletus," and into the sunshine of Jesus' Glorious purposes for your life.  "Do You Know Where You're Going To?"

Father, in Jesus' Name, only You can be my Strength to, "le[t] Trophimus...in Miletus."  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

I Wondered This Today

"From where does my help come?"  (Psalm 121: 1b, NASB)

I was thinking this morning as I was reading my Bible passages:  Why did Jesus take me to the Scriptures right after Stephen died?

There are many "ideas" which people have as to how to comfort people in bereavement, e.g., therapy-type seminars, five-fold people theologies. Philosophers have discussed the facing of death for millennia.  But I wonder how many have ever told someone to just start reading through the Bible?  I have at times, and was met with a blank stare. 

I thought today, however, of some of the passages I was reading.  There is the passage in 2 Samuel about an incident where a woman came to King David about a family conflict.  There is the passage about Jerusalem in Zech. 12:3, "...an immovable rock for all the nations."  There is the passage in John 14 where our Lord Jesus Christ tells us, "My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.  Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."  Then that great passage in 2 Timothy 2:11, 12, "For if we died with Him, we shall also live with Him.  If we endure, we shall also reign with Him."  I am and have been for a long time, "Standing on the promises, of Christ my King, through Eternal Ages let His praises ring."  

The Bible reveals the smallest details of two individuals in family conflict, and a man alone, Isaac, going out into the field in the evening to, "meditate."  No individual, no family is too "small" to be in the Heart of God.  But then the Bible takes us also to the "heights" of the Universe, "Thy Kingdom is a Kingdom of all ages, and Your Dominion throughout all generations," and, "Thus says the Lord to the mountains and to the hills, to the ravines and to the valleys, to the desolate wastes and to the forsaken cities....Then he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb."  Maybe there was something in those weeks of July/August, 1970, of getting me out of myself, taking me in my heart, mind, soul, spirit, body into His Eternal Domain, showing me that what I had experienced, and am still experiencing, is the "lot" of humanity since the Garden.  It is not insensitive, as some might think.  Maybe Jesus was saying to me so long ago, and is saying to all who are suffering, "And just look at My Work.  You are a fellow participant in all of this."

I talk of the power of the, "God-Breathed," Words a lot, I know.  But regular reading of the Bible will keep us in the "larger" perspective of life, the reality of life, that we are not alone, but participants in the human experience, not just some "Christian experience."  The Reign of Jesus Christ and His Kingdom is beyond church, quiet times, any spiritual experience we may have.  The Bible tells us of some of the major world empires, of how some very "little people" were exalted to positions of highest authority in those empires.  Those passages show us that you and I are participants in the Great, "....Kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ."  So, "Lift your vision higher"?  Well, that can only be done by reading, meditating on, and obeying His Words.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I shall never forget that "season," that "day."  You are still taking care of me.  Thank You so much.  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

Truth Is More Than That Which Is True

"Your law truth."  (Psalm 119:142a, Interlinear)

If a person is not committed to, "Your law [is] Truth," they have no choice but to believe, "the lie."

My adjusted reading schedule for the last half of 2018 has me today in Psalm 119.  I listened, read, and confessed it out loud; highly recommend it.  Here is what, "The Book of Truth," has to say about, "truth," and humanity in the, "last days," in 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12, "The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.  And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness."

"Truth," is a Person, the Person of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Our text tells us that His, "law (Word) is truth," not science, not philosophy, not our perceptions.  Notice in the Thessalonians passage that deception comes to people who do not, "receive the love of th[is] truth, that they might be saved."  Maybe up to now many have considered themselves quite able to "discern truth," to "read" other people, effectively "size up" situations, what is really "the truth."  Well, I do not trust myself in that.  For me, I am still working on what the Bible tells us is priority, "But first I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth."  Caution:  "Truth," is so much more than that which is true.

Father, in Jesus' Name, help me and my friend to never be so proud in our perceived abilities of perception, insight, any ability to rightly "read" situations.  We trust and depend only upon You and Your, "Book of Truth."  Amen. 

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"But First...The Book of Truth"

"So he said, 'Do you know why I have come to you?  Soon I will return to fight against the prince of Persia, and when I go, the prince of Greece will come; but first I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth.'"  (Daniel 10:20.21, NIV)

"But first...the Book of Truth."  If this is not the theme of our lives, our local churches, our everything, we are in for serious trouble, deception, defeat.  Whether it is "spiritual warfare," missions, preaching, giving to the poor, etc., if our life's foundation is not, "But first...the Book of Truth," whatever is "second," means nothing.

Notice that the messenger was telling Daniel of the great cosmic struggle, the battle with, "the world forces of this darkness," yet in the midst of this great struggle comes, "But first...."  For me, our every day, every gathering of the Church of Jesus Christ, every everything should start with, "But first I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth." 

What is your, "But first," today?

Father, in Jesus, may Your, "Book of Truth," always be my, "But first."  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

A Somewhat "Prophetic Word"

"Then he said, 'Do you know why I have come to you?'"  (Daniel 10:20a)

"Do you...?"  In the movie, "Gettysburg," I was particularly fascinated by the Southern Scout of General Longstreet.  Sarah said, "Maybe because he is like you."  Could it be something like "out there, probing, watching?"  Whatever "similarity" there may be, I pray that we all consider our text as a "word" from the Lord Jesus Christ to us in these days, "Do you know why I have come to you?"  What is our Lord Jesus saying to you to be "about."

It was about 18 years ago I started to pray for a "clear 5-4 majority on the Supreme Court of the United States of America."  Included in that was a prayer for the "overturn of Roe v. Wade."  At the time, it came to me that it was fulfilling the command of Isaiah 7 in praying, "let it be deep as Sheol, or high as heaven," (ESV), or, "deepest depths or highest heights," (NIV).  This is how the Church of Jesus should be praying in these days.  I remember asking then Senator Brownback's prayer group at the time I prayed this, Are we ready for the kind of backlash that would come if the "Roe" prayer were answered?  I can tell you without hesitation that the backlash would be as violent as any modern America has seen.

"Radical praying" will have radical results, not only if the prayers are answered, but also the response of the Ephesians 6, "the rulers of the darkness of this age."  I had three Bibles open to the following passages while I was praying over the last couple of weeks, Revelation 12:11, Ephesians 6:12, and Daniel 10:20, 21.  I submit them to you for consideration as you pray in these days.

"Do you know why I have come to you?"  And I can emphasize, "to you"!  Don't just do what others whom you may admire are doing.  Jesus teaches us emphatically that we are, "many members, yet one body."  Every cell and, "members," of Jesus' Church has a call.  Most of "the call" is common to the, "many members," e.g., "Go into all the world and make disciples," etc.  But there is within the "commission," the commands of Jesus considering the work of the Church and how we are to live our daily lives, a calling to take our "place" in the Church, "the Army of God." (1 Ch. 12:22)

"Do you know why I have come to you?"

Father, in Jesus' Name, help me to walk in Your Answer to this.  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2