A LESSON FROM A BIRD

On Wednesday morning, as I was sitting in my study, I heard a noise coming from the boiler-room area. At first, I thought perhaps Calvin Kilmer and/or Keith Mead were working on something, but when I checked, the lights were out and the basement was empty. As the noise continued, I knew what had happened … another bird had found its way down the boiler stack in into the boiler room. Its feathers were a bit ruffled and it was in a state of panic, but I was eventually able to get it to fly out the window—safe and sound.

But, this incident left me wondering why … what would possess a bird to make it fly down a dark tube into a place where could easily die (and a few have over the past year)? During cold weather, perhaps it might be seeking warmth, but the past few days have been unseasonably warm. I don’t see any reason it would expect to find food. Perhaps the bird was looking for shelter, but there’s plenty of other places around. I’ll probably never know the reason, but something must have allured / tempted the bird into a dangerous place.

While some of us may be thinking, “dumb bird,” perhaps we all ought to take a step back and learn a lesson about temptation. In the moment of temptation, there’s always something that either seems mysterious or attractive that quickly pulls a person in without thought of consequences. Then, like the bird in the boiler-room, you’re trapped and can’t find a way out. Satan, the great tempter, likes to make empty promises of pleasure, but fails to note the often lasting effects of succumbing to the temptation.

As Christians, we must always be on high alert. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus warned His disciples, “ Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." (Mat 26:41 ESV) I hope that we take Christ seriously, and apply this to our everyday life. And, when the temptation comes, use the way of escape (1 Cor. 10:13). Brothers and sisters, choose differently than the bird!

In His grip,
Pastor Decker

A FEW WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT

With the busyness of the past week, I didn’t have the time to put into this devotional that I usually have. So, instead, I have compiled several verses that should provide encouragement to us all and give us the courage to press on with Christ:

Love the LORD, all you his saints! The LORD preserves the faithful but abundantly repays the one who acts in pride. Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the LORD! (Psalm 31:23-24 ESV)

Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you." (Deuteronomy 31:6 ESV)

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:9 ESV)

The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. Glad songs of salvation are in the tents of the righteous: "The right hand of the LORD does valiantly, the right hand of the LORD exalts, the right hand of the LORD does valiantly!" (Psalm 118:14-16 ESV)

With God we shall do valiantly; it is he who will tread down our foes. (Psalm 60:12 ESV)

I hope these verses have encouraged your heart today!


In His grip,
Pastor Decker

A STRONG TOWER

Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer;
from the end of the earth
I call to you when my heart is faint.
Lead me to the rock that is higher than I,
for you have been my refuge,
a strong tower against the enemy.
(Psa 61:1-3 ESV)

The name of the LORD is a strong tower;
the righteous man runs into it and is safe.
(Pro 18:10 ESV)

Today, we don’t often think of towers as a means of protection and security as people did for many centuries. Sure, we have our tall buildings and skyscrapers, but they’re not the same. In the days of walled cities, a guard tower was an essential means of defense. From the tower, you could see an enemy approaching from a long way off, and prepare for attack (or launch a counter-offensive). Yet, for this to happen, the guards had to be on the look-out and recognize the threat when it arose.

Sadly, today, we can easily be lulled into a false sense of security. Now, I don’t mean to question the doctrine of eternal security, but we often fail to be on-guard against Satan’s attack and our own susceptibility to temptation. Like the guard who falls asleep on the job, endangering everyone he is supposed to be protecting, we endanger ourselves when we fail to put on our spiritual armor. Please take the time to look up, read, and apply Ephesians 6:10-18 today.

But, then, what do we do when we recognize a threat (spiritual attack or temptation)? Do we try to face it on our own, thinking we can handle it (often with disastrous results)? I hope that we are all wise enough to take refuge in the Lord, as the passages above tell us to do. It’s in running to Him, or getting on our knees in prayer, that we find safety in Him as our strong tower. May we always be quick to run to Him!

In His grip,
Pastor Decker

A LESSON FROM CHANGING A LIGHT BULB

Why is it that it takes some of us (i.e. myself) so long to change a light bulb that needs replacing? Now, I’m not talking about fixtures that only have one bulb … I usually get on those right away. What I’m talking about are fixtures that have two or more bulbs, like in the bedrooms of the parsonage and in my study at church. Sure, it seems a little darker, but there’s still enough light that it doesn’t seem urgent … and so it can be weeks or months before the bulbs get changed. Maybe I’m alone in this, but I doubt it. But, when those bulbs finally get changed, the difference is huge … the room seems so much brighter.

Sadly, devotions—spending regular time in God’s Word—can become like that. Sometimes life gets busy and your time reading God’s Word declines or gets eliminated for a while. It’s not that you’re walking away from God, but, before you know it, things seem a little dimmer. Perhaps you didn’t even realize it, but you were stumbling along. It may even take a while to realize what’s missing. Then, something happens, and you remember the words of Psalm 119:105, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (ESV) As the Spirit prompts, you make the time and get back into God’s Word, and suddenly, you realize, life is so much brighter (just like when that light bulb is finally replaced).

So, today, I ask you, how’s your lighting situation ...and I’m not just referring to light bulbs. Are you spending regular time with God in His Word, or are you missing out on the light that He provides? I hope the following passages shed a little light on your path!

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. (Psalm 119:105 ESV)
For it is you who light my lamp; the LORD my God lightens my darkness. (Psalm 18:28 ESV)
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (John 8:12 ESV)
So Jesus said to them, "The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. (John 12:35 ESV)

Walk in the light, my friends!

In His grip,
Pastor Decker