Tag: faith

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

We’re number one!

Posted on by William Douthwaite

A “through the bible” devotion from Exodus 15.

I got my first taste of marching band in seventh grade. Most of us had two years of instrument lessons and elementary band experience when we took the field for the fall football season. The first thing we learned was how to march “eight to five” (eight steps for every five yards). Second, we learned the school fight song, which I later learned was the Notre Dame fight song. Pretty much every junior high marching band adopted that fight song for their own. Those who didn’t used “On Wisconsin.”

The first song in the bible is a fight song (Exodus 15:1-18), sung by Moses and the people of Israel after God routs the Egyptians in the Red Sea (Exodus 14). As I read it, I hear shouts of victory and proclamations of “We’re number one!”

While fans exhibit religious devotion for a favorite sports team, few worshipers want church to sound like a football game. Having said that, churches do sing about our powerful God and victory over the opposition. The crowds celebrated Saul’s and David’s military victories with songs (1 Samuel 18:7). I always imagine that scene to be like a stadium full of soccer fans, chanting and waving huge flags. Later, David sings about offering up sacrifices with shouts of joy (Psalm 27). Even God, a victorious warrior, rejoices over his people with shouts of joy (Zephaniah 3:17).

We’ve toned it down for most of our worship services. But no one can turn down the volume when every creature in heaven and on earth praises the Lord (Revelation 5:11-14)!

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

He just won’t give up

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Nikhil Manan on pexels

A “through the bible” devotion from Exodus 7-10.

How stubborn are you? When do you finally give in? What does it take for you to admit you’re wrong, to say, “I’m sorry,” or admit, “It was my fault”?

It’s hard to find someone more stubborn than the Pharaoh of Egypt in Exodus. Imagine what life was like. The water is bloody, the smell of dead frogs is everywhere, you’re crops are decimated, the itching never stops, and you can’t escape the swarms of bugs. But Pharaoh still won’t let the people of Israel go.

But guess who is more stubborn? God. He won’t give up. He keeps forgiving, healing, and giving his people another chance. They don’t follow his instructions. They don’t like the way he does things. They really don’t trust him. Yet God still loves them, provides for them, leads them, and stays with them.

It’s good to personalize this truth. I’m not obedient. I question God’s ways. I give into my fears rather than trusting him. And yet his love, his provision, his protection, and his presence are the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Talk about stubborn.

I once had a friend ask me, “Did you tell someone I was stubborn?”

I answered, “Yes. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing. It means you hold on to your convictions. Few people are like that.”

You’ll never outlast God. His love endures forever. You might as well give in.

Posted in Devotions, prayer

Keep the conversation going

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Alexander Grey on Unsplash

A “through the bible” devotion from Exodus 8.

You know how it goes. Once you start feeling better, you stop taking the medicine, right? Yeah, that’s not now it’s supposed to go. You’re supposed to take all the antibiotics the doctor prescribed. You have to keep taking blood pressure medication daily for the rest of your life. It’s hardly ever a one and done.

Once we get into the plagues God sends to show his power to both Israel and Egypt, we get into that same kind of pattern. The plague hits, Pharaoh says you can go, the plague stops, and “when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and did not listen to them, just as the Lord had said” (Exodus 8:15). It happens again and again and again.

Of course we are good pray-ers when it’s hard or when it hurts or when we’re scared. Not so much when we feel better or the storm has passed or we’ve arrived safely at our destination. Yeah, that’s not how it’s supposed to go. My good day prayers are just as important as my terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day prayers.

Over time, God’s people developed prayers for the beginnings, endings, and in-betweens of every day. These prayers kept a divine conversation going throughout the day, rather than only kneeling for a need or in a crisis. In a world teeming with distraction, they pull us back into the relationship that matters the most, the one we have with our Creator, Savior, and Helper.

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

Anyone can do that

Posted on by William Douthwaite

A “through the bible” devotion from Exodus 7.

We can do so much.

Doctors, surgeons, hospitals and medicine can cure diseases. Infertile couples conceive in vitro. We grow meat in labs, view atoms in microscopes, travel in space, light up dark rooms, and fly through the skies. I can have anything I want delivered to my home by tomorrow.

So what do we need God for?

Pharaoh’s sorcerers and soothsayer priests can do all the tricks Moses can. They can turn a staff into a serpent, make a hand leprous, and turn water into blood (Exodus 7:11,22). So Pharaoh isn’t concerned about Moses’s God at all (Exodus 7:23).

I think it’s interesting that so many pursue power, knowledge, influence, and adoration. In other words, we try to be gods. We try to be what we think a god ought to be.

The truth is, other than doing a few tricks, we don’t know much about being gods. What’s God like? The only way to find out is to get to know Jesus. In Jesus, God became like us so that we wouldn’t settle for cheap imitations, but the real thing.

What kind of a god is Jesus? Merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love. Instead of a few science fair projects, try being like that.

That’s right, no one comes close.

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

Hardened and softened

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Felicity Tai on pexels.com

A “through the bible” devotion from Exodus 4.

Some recipes call for softened butter. Others need butter that has been hardened in the freezer. It just depends.

Moses’ initial assignment is to go to Pharaoh, perform miracles, and tell him to release the Israelites from bondage. Then God tells Moses, “I will harden [Pharaoh’s] heart, so that he will not let the people go” (Exodus 4:21).

It’s not a big deal to harden someone’s heart. It doesn’t take divine power or authority. Push back comes naturally. That’s just the way we are. I don’t think I’m rebellious, but I don’t want someone telling me what to do.

When Jesus says, “Love your enemy,” “Pray for those who persecute you,” and “Forgive” over and over, my first reaction is, “Yeah, I’m not going to do that.” Isn’t that a hardened heart?

The real miracle is when God gets through and changes a heart. His promise to Ezekiel is, “I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh” (Ezekiel 36:26).

Do you know what softens a heart? It’s when Jesus says, “You’re forgiven,” “I don’t condemn you,” or gives me yet another chance. That’s what grace does. It melts away our guilt, shame, and fear, opening us up to his love.

I think it’s interesting that God can use a hard heart or one that’s been thawed to accomplish his purposes.

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

Excuses, excuses, excuses

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by MART PRODUCTION on pexels.com

A “through the bible” devotion from Exodus 3 and 4.

Everyone needs a collection of excuses.

  • I didn’t know.
  • No one told me.
  • I forgot.
  • It wasn’t me.
  • It wasn’t my fault.
  • I didn’t get the message.
  • My phone was dead.
  • I thought it was at a different time.
  • Someone took it.
  • My dog ate it.
  • My mom didn’t wake me up.
  • Everyone else was doing it.

It’s fun to make a list of excuses you can use when you’ve messed up, forgot to do something, or don’t want to do something. Take a moment and add another twelve or so to my list. You’ll be more than equipped to handle anyone’s demands and expectations.

You’ve got to hand it to Moses. He’s got the guts to offer up excuses to the Almighty God.

“Who am I?” I’m don’t have the resume or experience to bring Israel out of Egypt.

“Don’t worry about it. I’ll be there with you.”

“What if they ask me your name? I don’t even know your name.”

“I am who I am.” Just call me, “I am.” (Yahweh)

“What if no one will believe me or listen to me?”

Just wait till your staff turns into a snake. Or you hand becomes leprous. They’ll believe you.

“I’m not eloquent.”

I know. I made you, complete with mouth, ears, and eyes. I know what you can do.

It’s kind of like a reverse interview. Moses is trying to convince God to not hire him. Too bad, Moses. I mean, “Congratulations! You’ve got the job!”

Posted in Devotions, neighbor, neighborhood, Through the Bible Devotions

The new neighbor

Posted on by William Douthwaite

A “through the bible” devotion from Genesis 34 and 35.

We try to be good neighbors. You know, friendly, keep an eye on each other’s houses, keep the yard looking nice, and pick up trash. Smile.

Most of our neighbors are like that. But not all. Some yards are kind of trashy. Some throw garbage into vacant lots. Some don’t seem to know how to smile. a few are kind of scary looking.

Jacob’s neighbors weren’t fond of him when he brought his family back to Canaan. After Simeon and Levi avenged the abuse of their sister Dinah, Jacob feared attacks from the locals (34:30). But the locals were afraid of them and avoided them (Genesis 35:5).

I guess that’s ok. But I’d rather the neighbors bring me a plate of cookies. I’d want to introduce myself (and my dogs) and get to know them (and their dogs). Let’s exchange smiles rather than scowls.

If kid’s won’t even knock on your door at Halloween, you might want to give a wave or crack a smile once in a while.

Posted in Devotions, Through the Bible Devotions

Wrestling with God

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Chris Chow on Unsplash

A “through the bible” devotion from Genesis 32.

I vividly remember wrestling with all of my three children. They were toddlers, and I would lie on the floor, hug them to my chest, and roll back and forth saying, “Wrestlin’, wrestlin’, wrestlin’!” Of course, I didn’t use even a fraction of my strength. I wasn’t in it to win, but to enjoy some silly dad time with them. The giggles were the best part.

“Then Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak.” 

In the heat of the moment, Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”

When it was all over, “Jacob named the place Peniel, for he said, ‘I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been spared.'” (Genesis 32:24-30)

I think it’s fascinating that Jacob tries to wrestle a blessing out of God. Jacob’s life is filled with God’s blessing. He ran away from home with nothing, and returns with all kinds of family and flocks, plus the same covenant promises of God given to his grandfather Abraham.

The Almighty doesn’t use a fraction of his strength, and lets Jacob hold on all night. In the morning, Jacob realizes he’s been wrestling with God, and he lived to tell about it. That in itself is a pretty great blessing!

How often do I try to wrestle a blessing out of God rather than recognizing all the things he’s already given?

Posted in Devotions, Through the Bible Devotions

The deceiver is deceived

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by nikki gibson on Unsplash

A “through the bible” devotion from Genesis 28-29.

If you’re like me, you’re tickled to read how Jacob the deceiver is deceived!

“Now in the evening he took his daughter Leah and brought her to him; and Jacob had relations with her…So it came about in the morning that, behold, it was Leah!” (Genesis 29:23,25)

Jacob works seven years for Rachel’s hand in marriage. But on their wedding night, Laban pulls a fast one and has his older daughter Leah consummate the marriage. Jacob doesn’t realize it until the morning? That must have been one heck of a feast! It sounds more like a fraternity party where one of the brothers is so drunk he doesn’t even know the name of the girl he spent the night with.

We live in a world where we must be ever vigilant against scams. My spam folder is filled with emails from unknown sources who want me to click something or call a number so I can give up some personal information. Is that guy at your door peddling alarm systems legit? Is that really a piece of grilled grouper on your plate? How about that “American made” product assembled from parts imported from other countries?

Just be careful. Ask around. Do your homework. Read the fine print. Run it by a friend. Get some references.

At least make sure your best man is looking out for you!