Worthy of Honor (Friday Devotional)

 

Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval. By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.

- Hebrews 11:2-3

Washington. Franklin. Jefferson. Lincoln.

Over the last few days, Lindsey and I have been introducing our kids to names like these as we’ve made our way through Washington D.C., Philadelphia, and Baltimore. They’ve seen the massive monuments on the National Mall, iconic artifacts like the Liberty Bell, and historic locations from Independence Hall to Fort McHenry (and eaten Philly cheesesteaks. Lots of Philly cheesesteaks.)

All week long, we’ve been surrounded by our nation’s history, inspired by its founding fathers and greatest heroes. As we’ve read about these historic figures, doing our best to pass their legacy along to our children, we’ve been prompted to consider what makes these national icons special. From Hamilton’s brilliance to Roosevelt’s courage to King’s conviction, there are all sorts of traits that make America’s heroes memorable.

But when the anonymous writer of Hebrews ran through an accounting of the Bible’s heroes, it’s instructive that there was one characteristic they singled out: faith. From Abel to Abraham, from the judges to the prophets, faith in God was the defining trait that turned ordinary people into biblical heroes. Rahab was crafty, but her faith was why she was remembered by future generations. Moses was righteous, but his faith is what set him apart from other leaders. David was a mighty warrior, a talented musician, and a great king, but it was his faith that made him a man after God’s own heart.

As we think today about what makes someone worthy of honor, perhaps we ought to pay more attention to faith. It’s easy to praise a person’s intelligence, their strength, and their prosperity—after all, those are all traits the world rewards. But for believers, more value should be placed in their trust in the Lord, the strength of their relationship with him, and to how closely they pattern their lives after his.

Faith in God, not innate impressiveness, is the marker of a godly hero. Maybe it’s time—indeed, past time—that we pay more attention to that characteristic.

Start Now (Friday Devotional)

 

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

- James 1:22

In 1974, Dr. Henry Heimlich invented a technique for rescuing a choking victim. By reaching your arms around the gagging person’s body, grasping your fist in your other hand, and thrusting upward quickly, you exert pressure on the diaphragm, compress the lungs, and put enough pressure on whatever’s lodged in the trachea to dislodge it. Since the doctor’s invention, the eponymous Heimlich maneuver has been taught as a basic emergency first aid technique to everyone from medical doctors to preschool teachers to Boy Scouts.

But despite the prevalence of the technique, Henry Heimlich never had cause to actually use it himself until 2016. Eating a steak in the dining room of the Deupree House, a senior living community in Cincinnati, he noticed the woman next to him start to choke. With more than 100 people looking on, he sprang into action, using his namesake maneuver three times until the woman coughed out the piece of hamburger lodged in her throat. More than 40 years after inventing the Heimlich maneuver, Dr. Henry Heimlich used it for the first time. He was 96 years old.

There are some things, like the Heimlich maneuver, that you can understand, believe, and even teach without needing to use them yourself. They’re break-glass-in-case-of-emergency practices, things you bust out only when absolutely necessary. Otherwise, they remain internalized, stored up for just the right moment.

But the commands of God’s Word do not fall in that category. Obedience is not something you learn about it, it’s something you practice—not tomorrow, but today. Sanctification is not something God has in store for you down the road, but something the Holy Spirit calls you to engage in now.

Maybe you’re just starting to read the Bible, to hear God’s Word for the first time. Or maybe you’ve been a believer for decades and the words of Scripture are as familiar as home. Whatever the case, the time to obey God’s Word isn’t later, it’s now. Don’t wait until you’re 96 to start living for Jesus.

The Power Within (Friday Devotional)

 

Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

- Ephesians 3:20-21

“I didn’t know I had it in me.”

You’ve probably heard that expression before, maybe even used it yourself. It’s the kind of thing you say after riding your first roller coaster, something for when you’ve overcome a big fear. Alternatively, it’s what you say, with equal pride and surprise, after completing a difficult assignment, whether that means DIY-ing a room in your house or giving a speech at a corporate event. You could even say it after doing something familiar, but with better results than ever before, like after beating your personal record in a local 5K.

Whatever the case, you say “I didn’t know I had it in me” because results have demonstrated you have more power within you than you expected. What you thought was possible, it turns out, was too limited. You’re able to accomplish even more than you dreamed you could.

For believers in Jesus Christ, we know the source of our spiritual power—not personal will or some inner reserve of ability, but the Holy Spirit. God has empowered us to do his work in the world, to share the gospel in word and deed so that others will know him and be conformed to the image of his Son.

And if you will be faithful and obedient, God has a way of surprising you. He will send you places you never wanted to go and, by the power of the Spirit, you will flourish. He will give you tasks you never planned to undertake and, by the power of the Spirit, you will ace the test.

When those moments come, don’t lose sight of what’s being revealed. First, remember where the power comes from—you’re not the star of the show, the Lord is, and it’s by his power that you’re doing God’s will. Second, remember that when God is at work, the impossible becomes possible.

On your own, you may not have big expectations for yourself. But don’t forget who you have within you.

The Kids Are Alright (Friday Devotional)

 

Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.

- 1 Timothy 4:12

There is a lot adults don’t understand about the generations who come after them. Why do they talk that way, with slang that defies the rules of grammar and words you won’t find in a printed dictionary? Why do they dress that way, resurrecting fashion trends you thought we’d left behind decades ago? And what are these references they make which are foreign to you, from TikToks to manga to Netflix shows you didn’t know existed? It’s all enough to make your head spin.

With that confusion also comes judgment. Every generation is convinced that the ones behind theirs don’t work hard enough, that they are entitled, that they have their priorities out of whack. Adults, hardened by the world, scoff at the perceived naivete of youth, preaching a cynicism they call realism and mocking idealism as fantasy. Grown-ups claim the children are our future, but are never ready to entrust them with anything we could otherwise control.

Nevertheless, the more time you spend with youth and kids, the more you will be left in awe. You will be crushed by the unrelenting pressure they are facing. You will be amazed by the boundlessness of their energy. You will be warmed by the unabashed fervency of their spirit.

I spent the last week at youth camp with 8 of our church’s students and more than 1,100 others from around the state. Every day we ate bad food, played silly games, sweated through multiple sets of clothes, and slept in cabins that will never be confused with the Hilton. By the end of the week, every adult at Mt. Lebanon was ready to return home to the embraces of our families and the comforts of our homes.

But I suspect that most, like me, walked away from youth camp having learned more than they taught. When you see teenagers spent 3 straight hours in uninterrupted prayer and worship, it’s hard to be cynical about their outlook on life. When you see them praising God with all their being, it makes you wonder what’s holding you back. When you see friends care for each other like brothers and sisters, it fills you with hope.

The next generation won’t do it like we did, or like our parents did. They never do and they never will. But if we’ll give them a chance, passing on God’s Word to them instead of our baggage, they’ll be more than ok. The kids are alright—and if we’ll pay attention, they have a thing or two to teach us.