Stuck on Pablum

Hebrews 5:11-14  We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

            Pablum (1931, Mead Johnson & Company) was a breakthrough in nutritional science for the health of babies. Although it was not the first baby food, it was the first baby food to come precooked and thoroughly dried making it easy to prepare at home. Pablum—a mixture of cereal grains and fortified with vitamins and minerals—made digestion easy on a baby’s stomach without adverse side effects. Yet as we all know, babies grow, and quickly need something more than milk and purees. They grow quickly into the need for solid food.

            This is the analogy we find described in the Hebrews passage. Although the author of Hebrews is uncertain, it is clear that he is directing his comments to listeners whom for whatever reason were not moving forward in their Spiritual growth. I get a sense of frustration from the author as he makes it clear that he would like to say more but recognizes the audience’s lack of understanding. In fact, more than this, it is their lack of willingness to try that seems to be the source of the author’s frustration. The phrase by this time would indicate that these were not new Christians, but Christians who had time to learn and grow but were not willing to make the effort.

            So how does a Christian become mature—someone who understands the elementary truths of God’s word? How do we avoid becoming stuck on Pablum? On this point the author does a great job of answering this question. Becoming mature—understanding the elementary truths of God’s word—comes by constant use of God’s word and training themselves to distinguish between good from evil. The only way to learn from God’s word, is to read God’s word, and to put it into practice—on a daily level.

James 1:22  Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.     

Gracious Heavenly Father,

            Thank you for providing such powerful examples for us in your written Word—both of things we should avoid, as well as things we should put into practice. Your Word is clear. Forgive us for treating it so casually and lacking motivation to delve deeper. Help us to grow and mature in the light of your truth.

            In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, Amen.

 

The devotional Stuck on Pablum appeared first on Write From My Heart at writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com

email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com

 

Setting Your Mind to Gain Understanding

Daniel 10:12  Then he continued, “Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them.

            Most Christians truly desire to know more about God’s Word. Many have favorite verses they have memorized, perhaps from childhood. So the questions come; why are so many Christians hesitant to study the scriptures for themselves? Why do we prefer synthesized versions and paraphrases of the Bible rather than good solid translations? Where is our motivation to learn?

            I am convinced that the Bible is not a difficult book for the common person to understand. I am convinced that it only takes a willingness to spend time reading, looking up a few unfamiliar words, and using a few quality resources to get a “sense” of the time/place/people involved in the passage being studied. And most significantly, it takes a willingness to spend time in prayer asking God to guide your understanding.

            For example, I know that Daniel is considered to be a book of prophecy. While I do not claim to have much knowledge or wisdom in understanding prophecy; I do know that chapters 7-10 of Daniel chronicle many dreams and visions; that these occurred during the reigns of Belshazzar, Darius, and Cyrus (kings of Babylon); and that in each case, proper understanding was provided to Daniel because he humbled himself and prayed for understanding. So even if I only have a small amount of understanding myself—I have enough to know from the example of Daniel that God hears each request we make, and that he responds if we will come to him with a humble heart.

            Tomorrow, we may look at an example from Hebrews of a group who seemed uninterested in learning. But for now, my prayer for you echoes the prayer of Paul for the Colossians, along with the encouragement of James:

Colossians 1:9-10  For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way…

James 1:5  If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

Gracious Heavenly Father,

            Thank you for listening to our prayers. Thank you for responding to our humble requests for understanding. We confess our lack of motivation to delve deeper into your Word and our tendency to depend on others to study for us. We ask for a heart willing to learn the rich truths in your Word.

            In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, Amen.

 

The devotional Setting Your Mind to Gain Understanding appeared first on Write From My Heart at writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com

email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com

Glimmer of Hope

Psalm 71:14  As for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more.

            Often in my writings I say:  Yet there is hope. There is always hope. I truly believe this is so. After the devastation of a storm or natural disaster, once the debris has been cleared, hope in the form of delicate sprigs of new plant growth appears. During times of seemingly insurmountable and overwhelming health concerns we trust in the blessed hope of that glorious day when there will be no more pain or suffering. Hope can present itself in tangible ways—the sprigs of green, the smile of a friend, a helping hand, a card, a letter, the well-worn pages of your Bible. Many times, hope is simply the silent reminder that God is real, that he cares deeply for you, and that he will never abandon his children.

            If you are in need of hope today, my prayer is that God will place people in your pathway to encourage and support you. If things are going well with you today, my prayer is that you will respond to the opportunities God places in your pathway to encourage and support others around you who are in need of a glimmer of hope.

Gracious Heavenly Father,

            Thank you for the provision of hope from your Word. Thank you for the many ways and forms in which you provide hope for us, including the blessed hope of Christ’s soon return. Thank you for the opportunities you provide us to be the glimmer of hope in the life of someone who needs you.

            In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, Amen.

 

The devotional Glimmer of Hope appeared first on Write From My Heart at writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com

email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com

 

What to Do When You Don't Know What to Do

Romans 15:5-6  May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 14:19  Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.

            There are times in each life, especially as we accumulate birthdays, that we simply don’t know what to do anymore. What do we say? What do we do? How do we motivate ourselves to keep going?

            First of all, I think it’s important to recognize that it is your Heavenly Father who provides the endurance and encouragement you need each day. When your heart is tuned in  to him, when you strive to keep the same attitude as Christ Jesus…then somehow you are able to withstand the negativity that seeps in around you. You realize that you will have just the right number of days to do whatever it is your Heavenly Father has called you to do—including being an encouragement to others around you. Our efforts then become focused less on self, and more on living in peace and trying to edify (i.e., instruct; build up; improve morally or spiritually) those around us. And the sole purpose for this is not for our own benefit—rather, to glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Every day our Heavenly Father grants us is another day of life to honor him in everything that we say, everything that we do, and everything that we think. This is what you do when you don’t know what else to do…you glorify your Heavenly Father in all things!

Gracious Heavenly Father,

            Through the years you have blessed us with so much. Forgive us for the times we despair and question our purpose. Remind us that you provide all the strength and encouragement we need each day. Remind us, too, that our purpose is to glorify you in all things. Give us the mind and attitude of Christ Jesus so that we might look beyond ourselves in order to love and encourage others. Thank you for your faithfulness.

            In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, Amen.

 

The devotional What to Do When You Don’t Know What to Do appeared first on Write From My Heart at writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com

email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com

 

 

A Call to Persevere

Jude v. 3-4  Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people. For certain individuals whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.

Jude v. 17-21  But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. They said to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.” These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.

            Each generation of Christians looks at their surrounding world and wonders how things could possibly stray any further from God’s original design of a good and righteous creation that would honor him. It seems like the words of Isaiah ring far more truthfully today than ever before:

Isaiah 59:14-15 So justice is driven back, and righteousness stands at a distance; truth has stumbled in the streets, honesty cannot enter. Truth is nowhere to be found, and whoever shuns evil becomes a prey.

            So what are we to do? Jude does not leave us in a distraught state of mind, for there is hope—there is always hope.

Jude v. 20-22  But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. Be merciful to those who doubt…

            The answer is a simple one; we are to persevere (i.e., continue on in spite of difficulty or opposition) and be the Christ-like example we are called to be in dark and tainted world. And then Jude gives us the most comforting of doxologies:

Jude v. 24-25  To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.

Gracious Heavenly Father,

            At times we become overwhelmed with the social and political declines all around us. We wonder how much longer it will be until the blessed hope of your promised return. Forgive our impatience and our doubting. Create in us a steadfast resolve to reflect your love and to honor you in everything that we do, or say, or even think. Give us the strength to persevere until you come. Thank you for your mercy and grace.

            In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, Amen.

 

The devotional A Call to Persevere appeared first on Write From My Heart at writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com

email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com

From the First Law of Kipple

            Years ago, I was reading a science fiction book, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? (Philip K. Dick, 1968); and to be honest, I never finished it because I felt I could (and should) be filling my mind with much better material. Yet there were a couple of quotes that stuck with me.

·       Kipple is useless objects.  When nobody’s around, Kipple reproduces itself.
·       The First Law of Kipple: Kipple drives out non-Kipple.
·       No one can win against Kipple, except temporarily and maybe in one spot.
·       It’s a universal principle operating throughout the universe; the entire universe is moving toward a final state of total, absolute Kippleization.

            Now at the time, I found humor in this because I was in the process of making every attempt to de-clutter all the nooks, crannies, and closets in my home. And I thought to myself, Yes, clutter reproduces itself when nobody is around. And yes, clutter drives out non-clutter. And yes, at times I’m overwhelmed and think I cannot win against clutter. And yes, clutter seems to be taking over my world perhaps even to a total state of clutterization. (I hope you can envision and share in my humor.)

            But that was then, and this is now, as they say. Today I wonder if we might substitute other words in place of the word kipple. What about things like worry? stress? chaos? These things, too, multiply if left unchecked. These things, too, drive away non-worry, non-stress, and non-chaos—to be clear, they drive away PEACE. The one spot where we can always win against such kipple as worry, stress, and chaos is at the feet of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He provides a peace which the world cannot understand nor is it able to comprehend. Perhaps we could all use a re-fresher course straight from God’s Word. In closing, let’s remind ourselves of several favorite Bible verses to help us drive away any “non-PEACE kipple” that might be distracting us today:

Matthew 6:27, 33-34  Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

John 16:33 I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.

Philippians 4:6-7  Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

2 Thessalonians 3:16  Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.

Gracious Heavenly Father,

            Today I have written with humor, but the truth is that many of us are struggling with things that drive away the peace in our lives. The only lasting peace is your peace that you provide so willingly and graciously. Turn our hearts toward you, calm our fears and anxieties, and strengthen us with your peace.

            In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, Amen.

 

The devotional From the First Law of Kipple appeared first on Write From My Heart at writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com

email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com