Luke 10:38-11:13 Our pastor has said that we have to remember to keep the main thing the main thing. When we look at our lives, we have to ask ourselves, “What is the main thing?” I had a friend who put on her refrigerator a sign that said, “What difference will this make 10,000 years from now?” Priorities change when we realize that our life here on earth is but a hands breadth. Those who know Jesus Christ personally will live forever with Him. Jesus told Martha that she was careful and troubled about many things, but Mary had chosen the one thing needful. Mary chose to sit at His feet and learn of Him. Without Him we can do nothing. When we realize this, we will spend more time sitting at His feet as Mary did.

Each morning Jesus gives us this invitation, “Come learn of me, for I am meek and lowly of heart, and you shall find rest for your soul.” Martha had no rest for her soul. She was busy and anxious about many things, and this stole her peace. In fact, she was so concerned about her dinner that her attitude toward Mary was negatively affected. She saw Mary with critical eyes because Mary was not doing what she wanted her to do. Has this ever happened to you?

Daily we are challenged to keep the main thing the main thing. The main thing is our relationship with the Lord and then with others. Yesterday we talked about the value of spending time with our family at the dinner table. Breaking bread together was a regular occurrence in the early church, and most of their meetings involved sitting at a table. In this busy culture in which we live, many have lost the gift of hospitality. However, if we become so concerned about our dinner preparations that we fail to spend time with our guests, we have failed miserably as a hostess. People are always more important than appearances, food and things. Over the years I have learned to entertain without making a fuss about having things just right. Things will always be just right as we exercise the gift of hospitality if we keep the main thing the main thing.

The Holy Spirit can give us wisdom about how to have a dinner party without being so worn out that we are not good company. Often it is the fear of man (caring too much about what others think) that compels us to overdo in our hospitality. The people who come to our homes desire to talk with us and listen also to our news. This is their first priority. Good conversation at the dinner table always makes up for what may be lacking in the finer dinner or an immaculate house. Next time you entertain, turn the lights down low and no one will notice if you missed cleaning somewhere. Cook something that smells great and keep it simple. If your guest offers to bring something, always let them. It will make it easier on you, and you will have more time with your guests. These are just a few ideas to KEEP THE MAIN THING THE MAIN THING. Your life as well as your entertaining will always be a delight when the presence of the Lord and people are more important than your presentation.

READ: Deuteronomy 26:1-27:26; Luke 10:38-11:13; Psalm 76:1-12; Proverbs 12:15-17

Proverbs 12:12-14 One of my constant prayers is that the law of kindness would be upon my tongue and that my conversations would be seasoned with grace. There is a proverb that says that pleasant words are health to our bones. This proverb says that we are satisfied with good by the fruit of our lips.

Everyone desires to live a pleasant and good life. Whether we attain this depends on what we speak. If we are critical, judgmental and always murmur and complain, we will not be satisfied with good. The fruit of our lips will taste bitter. If we have a grateful heart and look for ways to exhort people to love and good works by our words, we will be satisfied with good fruit.

Each day we live we will be able to taste the goodness of the Lord. The Bible says to taste and see that the Lord is good. It is interesting to me that most digestive problems have to do with an overproduction of acid in our stomach. The Bible also warns against the gall of bitterness. Bitterness in the heart will always cause bitter words to come out of our mouths, and this may ultimately affect our physical bodies. When we are critical and judgmental of others, acid words can come out of our mouths that will eat away at our joy and the joy of others.

Nothing feels better than having been satisfied with a good meal. When we are satisfied, we feel a great sense of peace and well-being. When we speak kind, uplifting words to others, we also will have that sense of peace and well-being. What we speak has the power to set the atmosphere at the dinner table. Have you ever thought about that? Most counselors suggest that people not argue at the dinner table because it brings stress to their digestive systems. Communication at the dinner table should be uplifting and peaceful. Meal time should be a time of not only giving thanks before the meal, but also of thanking the Lord for one another during the meal. Sadly to say, many households spend little time at the dinner table together. TV, activities and the computer have stolen our times together as a family at the table. Eating together should be an experience that we look forward to. It is just not time to “slop the hogs,” as some people say.

Tonight make a special effort to gather together the whole family around the dinner table. Make something special, and then think of sharing with each person present an uplifting and encouraging word. If you live alone and eat your meals alone, use your meal time to read some of God’s Word. Make a practice of these dinner habits, and I believe your digestive problems will be solved.

Lord, forgive me for being so busy with outside activities that I seldom eat with the entire family and have time for conversations. Relationships are very important to You, and sometimes I trade relationships for activities. Help me to daily taste and see that the Lord is good, and then share Your goodness with others at meal time. Amen.

READ: Deuteronomy 23:1-25:19; Luke 10:13-37; Psalm 75:1-10; Proverbs 12:12-14

Luke 9:51-10:12 From the time my three sons were toddlers, I prayed that all three would be used as laborers in the last great harvest. Jesus exhorts us to pray for the Lord of the harvest to send forth laborers. The harvest is great, but the laborers are few. The Lord sends the laborers. He speaks to the potential laborer and gives him the call for his special field.

Our part daily is to pray for laborers for the harvest. The Lord heard my prayers over the years, and two of our sons have gone to foreign countries, while one is active as a laborer in the harvest in Atlanta. Our middle son, Ron, got his call as a laborer in a very unusual way. He was working on the work crew for a Young Life Camp when suddenly his chores were interrupted by the voice of the Lord. He didn’t hear an audible voice. but he heard this statement with his spiritual ears: “Ron, you are going to China.” This call was confirmed in the next half hour when the work crew had devotionals. The young man leading the devotions that night had a devotion on Hudson Taylor, who ministered in China. Ron knew he was to go as a laborer to China, and he has already spent three years in China and plans to go back.

Ray, our youngest son, was drawn to minister to the Jewish people. He met his wife, who also was called to be a laborer, and she felt drawn to Eastern Europe. One day as she was in the room of one of her friends at school, she saw a map of Budapest. She could not get that beautiful city off her heart and shared with Ray, who at that time was engaged to her, that maybe they should go to Budapest. Ray’s positive response was based on research he made to discover that Budapest has the third largest Jewish population of any city in Eastern Europe. I also received a confirmation for his call fifteen years ago. Upon waking from a nap, I saw an unusual flag in my mind. It was green, white and red with horizontal stripes. I knew it was not Mexico or Italy, since the stripes were horizontal, so I looked it up in the encyclopedia. It was the flag of Hungary, and for years I thought I would have to go to Hungary. I never shared this vision with Ray, but after he told me he was going to Hungary, I shared with him. This was a confirmation to his call. Russ, our oldest son, is called to be a bridge between races in Atlanta, Georgia.

The fields are truly ready for harvesting. Today ask the Lord where your field is. I believe we all have our fields, and many may not be overseas. Your field may be in your own neighborhood or your own family. Today pray for laborers for the harvest, and I believe you also will receive your own call as a laborer in the fields God has chosen for you.

Lord, I know there are works You have designed especially for me from the foundation of the earth. Help me not to miss out on any of these good works. I want to always be in the right place at the right time so the fields You have chosen for me will always be fruitful and provide a great harvest.

READ: Deuteronomy 21:1-22:30; Luke 9:51-10:12; Psalm 74:1-23; Proverbs 12:11

Psalm 73:1-28 Where will your focus be today? Here the psalmist looks at the people around him. He compares himself with those who are ungodly and realizes they seem to be better off than he is. He reminds God of how he has cleansed his own heart, but he cannot see the benefits of living a righteous life. His complaint to God is the same as that of many Christians today: “What’s the use in trying to be good and going God’s way when nothing is working out?” But then he goes into the sanctuary and draws near to God. He realizes that the wicked will eventually perish, but he will not. He thanks God for His faithfulness in holding his hand through hard times, for His guidance, counsel and strength. Then he shares this wonderful statement: “It is good to draw near to God; to put our trust in Him and to declare His works.” The psalmist first sees only the people who are close to him and the circumstances around him. At the end of this psalm, he is given a supernatural pair of glasses to see beyond those things he is experiencing. He focuses on the God who is in control of all things. To receive healing for his eyesight, however, he had to go into the sanctuary and draw near to God. He had to retreat from his circumstances and the people who surrounded him and get alone with God. In the sanctuary there were no distractions and his attention was focused only on God.

Several years ago, I visited a monastery where the monks belonged to an order that required a vow of silence. They passed one another without greeting and spent most of their time in prayer. You may be thinking, If I could only live in a monastery, then I would have no trouble drawing near to God. This world is too filled with distractions, and I’m not able to focus. We listened to one of the monks who had permission to talk since he daily went into town to purchase things. He exclaimed, “It is extremely difficult to be shut in with God twenty-four hours a day without any communication with others except God. There is no escape.” Restricting your communication with others is unnatural. My husband tried a vow of silence for one day, and he broke it within one hour.

God desires fellowship with us continually, no matter what our day holds, but He also designed us to fellowship with others. Granted we live in a world where it is difficult to have constant communion with God because of the distractions around us. Another monk found the secret to keeping his eyes focused on the Lord. His name was Brother Lawrence, and he wrote a book called Practicing the Presence of God. He shares in his book how he used his everyday tasks and people he saw to remind him of God and His love. As he washed dishes, he thought about the cleansing of Jesus’ blood and the water of His Word. When he saw different people during the day, he would quietly pray for them. I challenge you today to practice the presence of God and then declare to others God’s works. When you do this, you will always be in the sanctuary. I guarantee you will have a good day, because your focus will be on a good God. HAVE A GOOD DAY!!

READ: Deuteronomy 18:1-20:20; Luke 9:28-50; Psalm 73:1-28; Proverbs 12:10

Psalm 72:1-20 Vladimir, our Russian son, has been our gardener for the seven years he has lived with us. I remember the first time he cut the grass; he was so very proud of his accomplishment. Shortly after the grass was mowed, a shower came; we both stood in the carport and breathed in the elegant smell of rain on freshly mowed grass. There is nothing to compare with this smell. This psalm gives a beautiful description of what will happen to people who fear the Lord. One of the promises of God to those who fear Him is, “They shall fear thee as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations. He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth” (vv. 5-6, KJV).

What a promise to those who fear the Lord this is! I believe the psalmist is saying that when we fear the Lord, we will receive showers of blessings and our lives will have the clean fresh smell of newly mown grass after a shower. Another verse in Scripture says the fear of the Lord is clean and pure.

What happens when showers come and water the earth? All the vegetation begins to grow. As we fear the Lord, we will be soaked in the refreshing shower of the Holy Spirit and the water of His Word. We will grow into trees of righteousness, the plantings of the Lord.

The opposite is true of those who do not fear the Lord. In fact, their lives have an odor about them that is not good. I have been in places where I knew there was a lot of demonic activity; the whole place had a stench of death about it. When we stay close to the Lord, we will bring refreshing showers to others when they are experiencing draught in their lives. This psalm continues to share more promises given to those who fear the Lord. God promises them righteous days and abundance of peace. This psalm is the last of the prayers written by David and recorded in the Scriptures. David ends his writings with these verses, “His name shall endure forever: his name shall be continued as long as the sun: and men shall be blessed in him: all nations shall call him blessed. Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things. And blessed be his glorious name forever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen” (vv. 17-19, KJV).

What a great way to end our March readings!

READ: Deuteronomy 16:1-17:20; Luke 9:7-27; Psalm 72:1-20; Proverbs 12:8-9

Luke 8:41-9:6 Jairus had just heard the news that his daughter was dead. Can you imagine his amazement when he heard Jesus say, “Fear not, believe only?” This story has a happy ending because Jesus raised Jairus’ daughter from the dead.

As we have studied earlier, fear always nullifies faith. The product of fear is unbelief. The product of faith is hope, and we all need hope. Have you heard people say, “Now don’t get your hopes up, because you may be disappointed”? What a statement of unbelief this is. If we are afraid to get our hopes up because we fear that we will be disappointed, what is controlling us? Fear is controlling us.

If we knew the author and finisher of our faith a little better, we would always have our hopes up. Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith, and He also is the bishop of our souls. Hope is an anchor for our souls, and Jesus is our only hope. When we place our hope in Jesus instead of circumstances, we will always have our hopes up. Our hope is built on nothing else than Jesus and His righteousness. We stand on Christ our solid rock, who alone can keep us from the sinking sands of unbelief and discouragement.

I believe that Jairus was able to fear not and believe only because he kept his eyes on Jesus. He probably did not even look at his dead daughter. He looked at Jesus, and then he knew that Jesus was able to even raise his daughter from the dead.

Lord, help me to always put my hope in You. You are the author and finisher of my faith, and You do all things well.

READ: Deuteronomy 13:1-15:23; Luke 8:41-9:6; Psalm 71:1-24; Proverbs 12:5-7

Luke 8:22-40 We have had the opportunity to cross the Sea of Galilee many times. Our guide usually points out the fact that storms can come up quite suddenly on the sea because of the Golan Heights that surround the sea. Jesus was peacefully sleeping through the storm while His disciples were frantically bailing water out of the boat. Jesus rebuked the wind and the raging waters and suddenly all was calm. Then Jesus asked them, “Where is your faith?”

I think of the many times in my life when Jesus probably asked, “Where is her faith?” Faith is the evidence of things not seen and the substance of things hoped for. The disciples in the boat were afraid, and this killed their faith. Whenever we let fear overwhelm us, our faith goes out the window. Note that I said that our faith goes out the window. There is another faith that will never leave us, and this is the faith we need to tap into when fear is overwhelming us. This faith is the faith of Jesus Christ. Paul said, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me” (Gal. 2:20, KJV).

What a comfort to know I have a deeper level of faith that resides in me—the very faith of Jesus Christ. On that stormy day on the Sea of Galilee, the disciples had Jesus in the flesh with them. Now we have Jesus in the spirit with us, and He has promised never to leave us nor forsake us. Jesus now can travel with us through every storm of life, and His faith within us enables us to say, “Peace, be still,” to the raging waves of trials and tribulations we encounter.

Where is your faith? You have the very faith of the Son of God indwelling you. With that kind of faith, you can move mountains and calm every storm.

Thank You, Lord, for indwelling me with Your faith. When my own faith fails, I can tap into Your faith. I believe; help Thou my unbelief.

READ: Deuteronomy 11:1-12:32; Luke 8:22-40; Psalm 70:1-5; Proverbs 12:4

We all suffer from pride from time to time. God has a special name for the ailment of pride in our lives. He calls it the “Stiff-necked Disease.” We catch the “Stiff-necked Disease” when we have unbending wills and refuse to submit to God. Pride is the root of this disease, and humility is the cure. A little boy was asked to sit down and be quiet by his mother.

He did sit down, but he replied angrily, “I’m sitting down on the outside, but I’m standing up on the inside.” God is not as concerned about outward obedience as He is our inward obedience and the motivation for our obedience. Do we obey God with a willing heart out of love, or do we obey Him grudgingly with murmuring and complaining? The little boy in the story was still in control of his attitude. He had not submitted his attitude to God. He was in rebellion even though his outward actions indicated that he was obedient. If we obey outwardly, but still have an ungrateful, rebellious attitude on the inside, we are victims of the “Stiff-necked Disease.”

When people have a stiff neck in the physical, they usually cannot turn their heads. The neck determines the moment of the head. When we are stiff-necked spiritually and refuse to go God’s way, Jesus Christ, who is the head of the church, cannot move in our lives.

Moses and God were in agreement. They both called Israel a stiff-necked people. I pray God does not see me this way. Only our great physician, Jesus, can deliver and heal us from the “Stiff-necked Disease.” Jesus is the only one who can teach us meekness and lowliness of heart, and we can only learn this lesson as we sit at His feet. When we are in pride, we have two enemies—God and the devil. God resists the proud, and the devil uses pride to bring strife, confusion and every evil work into our lives.

Will you listen and answer Jesus’ call to you today? “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matt. 11:28-30, KJV).

READ: Deuteronomy 9:1-10:22; Luke 8:4-21; Psalm 69:15-36; Proverbs 12:2-3

We all suffer from pride from time to time. God has a special name for the ailment of pride in our lives. He calls it the “Stiff-necked Disease.” We catch the “Stiff-necked Disease” when we have unbending wills and refuse to submit to God. Pride is the root of this disease, and humility is the cure. A little boy was asked to sit down and be quiet by his mother.

He did sit down, but he replied angrily, “I’m sitting down on the outside, but I’m standing up on the inside.” God is not as concerned about outward obedience as He is our inward obedience and the motivation for our obedience. Do we obey God with a willing heart out of love, or do we obey Him grudgingly with murmuring and complaining? The little boy in the story was still in control of his attitude. He had not submitted his attitude to God. He was in rebellion even though his outward actions indicated that he was obedient. If we obey outwardly, but still have an ungrateful, rebellious attitude on the inside, we are victims of the “Stiff-necked Disease.”

When people have a stiff neck in the physical, they usually cannot turn their heads. The neck determines the moment of the head. When we are stiff-necked spiritually and refuse to go God’s way, Jesus Christ, who is the head of the church, cannot move in our lives.

Moses and God were in agreement. They both called Israel a stiff-necked people. I pray God does not see me this way. Only our great physician, Jesus, can deliver and heal us from the “Stiff-necked Disease.” Jesus is the only one who can teach us meekness and lowliness of heart, and we can only learn this lesson as we sit at His feet. When we are in pride, we have two enemies—God and the devil. God resists the proud, and the devil uses pride to bring strife, confusion and every evil work into our lives.

Will you listen and answer Jesus’ call to you today? “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matt. 11:28-30, KJV).

READ: Deuteronomy 9:1-10:22; Luke 8:4-21; Psalm 69:15-36; Proverbs 12:2-3

Luke 7:36-8:3 In response to the those who questioned His willingness to allow a woman who was a sinner to wash His feet, Jesus told a parable: “There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged” (Luke 7:41-43, KJV).

Over the years I have heard many testimonies of people who have been delivered from drugs, prostitution, homosexuality, alcoholism, etc. These people who have had such dramatic conversions from worldliness to holiness have such a deep love for God. There is a man in our church who was delivered out of the homosexual lifestyle and healed of AIDS. He has a deep love for Jesus. Another man and his wife in our church had been into everything—drugs, alcohol, sex outside of marriage, etc. We have the opportunity to pray with this man often at our little prayer groups in the church, and he just weeps when he prays. He is so grateful to God for what He has done in his life. He is so expressive in his love for Jesus.
He and his wife are so in love with Jesus because they have been forgiven much. I also know a man who was lifted off of the streets of Atlanta, delivered from cocaine and alcoholism, taught to read and who now is a master plumber. Every time I see him I think, Look what the Lord has done! It is marvelous in our eyes!! He also has a deep love for Jesus.

If we really thought about it, we could all say we have been forgiven much. Even though our testimonies may not be as dramatic as the ones shared above, we all were sinners, and Christ forgave us. We all were prisoners, and Jesus set us free. We all were bruised in our souls, and Jesus set us at liberty and healed our broken hearts. Jesus has forgiven us all of every sin. Remember, there are no degrees of sin with God. The major sin that leads to all other sins is unbelief. We have all been guilty of this. Jesus loves us much, He forgives us much, and our response is a grateful heart that loves Him much.

Lord, help me never take for granted where I have come from and where I am going because You have forgiven me and canceled the debt I owed. I love You, Jesus.

READ: Deuteronomy 7:1-8:20; Luke 7:36-8:3; Psalm 69:1-14; Proverbs 12:1