"Thanks For Wasting My Time!" (Proverbs 29:12)

I do not buy cars made by a certain manufacturer. The reason goes back several years to an unpleasant episode when I received a flyer in the mail suggesting that I end my current lease on my car and get a new car. My wife and I decided it would be worth a visit to see if this was feasible option.

We were greeted by the usual amicable salesperson who proceeded to take down our information and review our current lease. It turns out the deal the flyer was offering was not quite as good as we were led to believe. After about one hour of negotiations, my wife and I realized that we could not make the numbers work. Looking up at our salesperson, I said, “I’m sorry. I don’t think we can make the numbers work.”

The smile immediately vanished from the salesperson’s face. “So you’re not going to buy a car?”

Shaking my head, I replied, “I’m afraid not.”

“Thanks for wasting my time!” as he rushed out of the room.

I was flabbergasted by his rudeness. I shouted back at him but he continued to walk away, ignoring me. So I demanded that I speak to the manager. Within a few minutes, the manager appeared and I recounted the incident and demanded an apology. He calmed me down and asked me whether I still wanted to buy a car. I replied that I did but couldn’t make the numbers work. So, for the next 45 minutes, we went through numerous payment options. But at the end, it was again futile. The proposals were the same as the first salesperson. Wearied by the negotiations, my wife and I both looked up and said, “I’m sorry. I just don’t think we can make the numbers work. But we appreciate the effort you made.”

“So you’re not going to buy a car?” The same dour face appeared as he stood up.

“No, we’re not.”

“Thanks for wasting my time!”

The culture of any organization begins at the top. This obvious example of the car dealer manager and salesperson effectively drove this point home. The Bible reminds us that when the ruler or leader is bad, the rest of his followers will also be.

If a ruler listens to falsehood, all his officials will be wicked.
Proverbs 29:12 (ESV)

God continually reminds me that I am responsible for setting a godly example for my family and my business. I must listen to God’s truth and not the world’s falsehood when leading. And when I do, it will never be a waste of time.

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life. 

"I Will Bless You" (Ephesians 5:28-30)

In my office at work, I have photographs of my family. As I was gazing at the photographs of my family,  I thought back to the years when I was single. I had prayed to God that He would bless me with a godly woman and family.  He answered my prayers in a dramatic and abundant manner! But what if God showed me the photographs of my family, long before I ever met my wife or ever imagined children, and said, “I will bless you with a wife and children. And someday, you will hurt all of them.”

I would have scratched my head in confusion, pointed at the photographs, and asked God, “What do you mean? Why would I do something like that? Look at this lovely family! This is what I have wanted for so long! Why would I hurt them?”

And yet, this is exactly what happened. I am blessed with a lovely wife and two adorable children. But my sinful nature, pride, and selfishness have hurt them so many times. I have taken the blessings and promises of God and twisted and distorted them to satisfy my desires. Only by continually seeking God and asking for His forgiveness, have I been able to become a better husband, father, and the man that He wants me to be.

In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body.
Ephesians 5:28-30 (ESV)

I love my family. God answered my prayers and kept His promises to me. I need to keep my promise to Him by honoring my wife and family, loving them as Jesus Christ loved the church.

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.
 

You Speak Funny! (Judges 12:5-6)

I grew up in Hawaii but went to college in California. During my first month in college, I was standing in line in the dining hall, in conversation with my roommate. After a few minutes, the person in front of me in the line, turned around and, with a perplexed look, stated, “You speak funny!”

“What do you mean?” I stammered.

“I mean you speak funny. You have a weird accent.”

I was embarrassed. Growing up in Hawaii, I was surrounded by the local pidgin English dialect. The diction is idiosyncratic and, unless one spent time in Hawaii, may indeed sound strange. While I could speak it, I endeavoured to avoid it, embarrassingly thinking that “educated” people do not speak like this. But my upbringing betrayed me. It was ingrained within me and others easily noticed it, in spite of my best efforts to conceal it.

And the Gileadites captured the fords of the Jordan against the Ephraimites. And when any of the fugitives of Ephraim said, “Let me go over,” the men of Gilead said to him, “Are you an Ephraimite?” When he said, “No,” they said to him, “Then say Shibboleth,” and he said, “ Sibboleth,” for he could not pronounce it right. Then they seized him and slaughtered him at the fords of the Jordan. At that time 42,000 of the Ephraimites fell.
Judges 12:5-6 (ESV)

I am thankful I didn’t live in the days of the Judges of Israel! God included this interesting account in the Bible. The Ephraimite fugitives were tested by their captors by listening to how they would pronounce a certain word. Fail the test, lose your life!

Yes, I do speak funny. But at least the consequences are only perplexed looks and laughter. In God’s Kingdom, we will all speak one language, praising Him for all eternity. I look forward to that day!

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.

You Need the Leadership To Support It! (Exodus 33:11)

When I was with my former group, I was given the task to create a mentoring program. I enthusiastically began the project, but after a few months, it was clear that the program was not reaching its stated goals. Although mentors and mentees were assigned and regular group meetings were held, the entire program began to falter. Paired mentors and mentees met sporadically, if at all. Attendance at the group meetings dwindled. There were competing activities and mentors complained that there was not enough time to invest in the mentees. I complained to the leadership, the very ones who wanted the mentoring program. Instead of enthusiastic support, I received a passive-aggressive reply that they would look into it. It was becoming very clear to me that the only reason the leaders wanted a mentoring program was to enhance their own recruiting efforts. They never truly wanted anyone to replace them. They only wanted to make the group appear more attractive to young and naive new hires.

It was an abject failure. For many years, I harbored bitterness about the experience and toward the leaders. Countless hours and innumerable meetings and for what? After about two years, the entire project died a quiet death. Ironically, word of the mentoring program reached the ears of some of the leaders of our national governing body. One of them telephoned me and asked me to share my experiences with him and to consider sharing it with his committee in the hope of creating a national mentoring program. I politely declined the offer and told him that, while the concept of a mentoring program was invaluable, any mentoring program would be doomed to failure unless one thing happens. “You need the leadership to support it!”

The Bible gives us many examples of mentoring. Gamaliel and Paul, Paul and Timothy, Peter and John Mark, Jesus and His disciples. One of the earliest examples is Moses and Joshua. Very early in Moses’ leadership, he was already preparing his God-chosen successor, Joshua.

Thus the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. When Moses turned again into the camp, his assistant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, would not depart from the tent.
Exodus 33:11 (ESV)

Joshua is introduced with little fanfare but as the wandering of the Israelites continues, Joshua assumes a greater role. Eventually, when Moses is about to die, all of Israel knew that Joshua was his successor.

Any successful mentoring program needs to have the leadership support it. Moses, through God’s guidance, carefully groomed Joshua as His successor. When Joshua succeeded Moses, God blessed the transition and led Joshua to numerous military successes. It was a godly transition and it was successful because the leader supported it.

All Christian believers have a responsibility to mentor the next generation of Christians. It does take time and commitment, but we should never waver in the task. Our inspiration and motivation come from Jesus Christ. We never have to second guess the motivations of our leader. He is Sinless. He is Sovereign. He is God.

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.

"He's A Lost Soul" (Luke 12:2012:13-21)

Years ago, a colleague of mine and I were commenting upon a mutual acquaintance. He was a brilliant physician but was unable to settle down with any medical group. My friend shook his head and lamented, “Yup. He’s a lost soul.”

Deep down, I thought I understood what he meant, but I still queried him, “Why?”

“He’s a lost soul!” throwing his hands up in the air and shrugging his shoulders. “Doesn’t know what he wants or doesn’t want!”

For many years, I thought about that comment. Yes, a soul would be lost if it had no direction. But at the heart of my pondering was the nagging question, “What is the soul?” Theologians and scholars have debated the meaning of the soul for years. One of the more satisfying definitions was given by Dallas Willard.

“You have a soul, made by God, made for God, and made to need God, which means you were not made to be self-sufficient....What is running your life at any given moment is your soul. Not external circumstances, not your thoughts, not your intentions, not even your feelings, but your soul. The soul is that aspect of your whole being that correlates, integrates, and enlivens everything going on in the various dimensions of the self. The soul is the life center of human beings.”

We may delude ourselves into thinking we are the master of our souls, but this is not what God says. A lost soul is one that is not grounded in God. A lost soul is continually looking for direction and is confused because it is led by emotions and physical desires rather than submitting to God’s leading. And while fumbling and stumbling for direction, at a moment we least expect, God may require your very soul. And a soul that has not found God will be lost forever.

Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?” And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, ‘ What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops? ’ And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’ But God said to him, ‘ Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be? ’ So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.
Luke 12:13-21 (ESV)

It does not have to be this way. If we confess our sins, repent, and accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, our souls will no longer be lost. But it is not by our efforts, it is only because God reached out to us and saved us, by His mercy and grace.

Are you a lost soul? Come to Jesus Christ, the keeper of our souls.

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life. 

"I Have Enough!" (Genesis 33:9 )

How long do grudges last?

In this touching story from the Bible, the estranged brothers, Esau and Jacob, meet for the first time in many years. When they last saw each other Esau swore that he would kill Jacob for tricking him out of receiving the first son’s blessing, bestowed by their father Isaac. With great fear, Jacob approached Esau. He even sent ahead a peace offering of livestock and food. But when the two met, Esau embraced him as his dear brother. Surveying the offering, he questioned Jacob as to the meaning. Jacob said that it was, “...to find favor in the sight of my lord.” Esau gracefully replied,

“I have enough, my brother; keep what you have for yourself.”
Genesis 33:9 (ESV)

As I reflect upon this story, I wonder what caused the change in Esau’s heart? Was it simply the old adage, “Time heals all wounds”? Was it the fact that he, too, had been blessed and was successful? Did God directly intervene and change his heart? The Bible does not give us any insights to the answer. But we do know the outcome. Esau and Jacob were reconciled.

And perhaps this is the most important lesson. After years of harboring resentment against a man who once befriended me then betrayed me, I was finally able to forgive him. It took many years. Yes, time did diminish the pain and my life had been abundantly blessed since that incident. But it was God who was directly intervening in my heart through His Holy Spirit. He showed me that it was ultimately my sins that led to the rejection. This did not excuse the man’s action, but God helped me to see the entire episode in a new light.

How long do grudges last? For me, it was far too long. If it had not been for God’s grace and mercy, I may never have reconciled with this man. This is what God does, reconciling the lost world to Him through belief in His Son, Jesus Christ.

I have enough when it comes from God.

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life. 

The GPS Must Be Wrong! (Exodus 13:17-18)

The GPS is a marvelous tool, especially for direction-challenged men like myself. I certainly live up to the stereotypes of men not asking for directions when driving to a new location. In this day, it is not uncommon to have GPS access through a car and/or one or more smart devices. Not infrequently, when headed to a new destination, I will have two GPS programs running. While the majority of the time, the routes will match, occasionally there are significant differences. When surveying both routes, I sometimes shake my head in disbelief as I look at the seemingly longer route and mutter, “The GPS must be wrong!” But as is so often the case, the one GPS program found the most efficient route, taking into account issues like traffic congestion and road closures. Sometimes, I am wrong and the GPS is correct.

When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near. For God said, “Lest the people change their minds when they see war and return to Egypt.” But God led the people around by the way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea. And the people of Israel went up out of the land of Egypt equipped for battle.
Exodus 13:17-18 (ESV)

My experience with the GPS reminds me of my frequent lack of trust in God when He leads me in a direction that I do not think is correct. The Israelites experienced this first hand when God led them out of slavery in Egypt. The route that was the shortest and most direct was bypassed by God who led them into a longer and seemingly roundabout sojourn. Undoubtedly confusing and frustrating to the Israelites at that time, the Bible gives us insight that it was God’s guidance in anticipation of the Israelites fearing the pursuing Egyptians and risk returning to Egypt along an easy route.

A GPS is a useful device and may sometimes surprise with options that seemingly appear to be a less direct route. But when seeking direction in life, only God is always correct. We may be confused and not trust Him when the path He leads us is not the shortest or easiest path, but He will always lead us down the correct one.

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.

"Nepotism Ain't What It Used To Be!" (1 Samuel 2:12)

My friend’s husband was just laid off from his job as an attorney at a very prestigious university. What was surprising was his family’s connection to this university. His mother was an esteemed emeritus professor and his grandfather was an important administrator for whom a major building on the campus was named. In fact, as my friend confided, the current dean owed his job to the recommendation of his grandfather.

“How can that be?” I asked in bewilderment. “All of his family connections could not save his job or get him a position in another department at that university?”

She shook her head and glibly stated, “Nepotism ain’t what it used to be!”

Indeed! Examples of nepotism abound. When the relationship leads to success, we nod and state, “The apple doesn’t fall from the tree.” But when the relationship leads to failure, we shake our heads and dismiss it as nepotism gone awry. After all, simply being related to a great leader does not guarantee success for a relative in the same endeavour. But like my friend’s husband, nepotism certainly has its limits.

Now the sons of Eli were worthless men. They did not know the Lord.
1 Samuel 2:12 (ESV)

The Bible has so many notable examples of nepotism. Eli was the chief priest for the Israelites and he had two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, who also served as priests. The Bible does not mince words and declared them worthless. They would steal the choicest meats for themselves before they were offered for sacrifice, they slept with women who came to the temple, and they did not believe in God. And yet, they were priests like their father. Definitely an example of nepotism gone awry and a situation where one might wish that nepotism did have its limits.

If you have confessed your sins and repented and turned to Jesus Christ and accepted Him as your Lord and Savior, God will accept you as His child. It is a familial relationship that places us in the position of receiving His continual blessings, guidance, and benefits.

Nepotism ain’t what it used to be...perhaps in this life. But thanks be to God that through His adoption of us as His children and welcomed into His family, we will never know the limits of God’s love, grace, and mercy in our lives.

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.

Don't Skip a Verse (Psalms 18:34)

I love reading the Bible and whichever Bible I read, either print or electronic, I highlight key verses. The other day, as part of my daily devotional, I was reading Psalms 18. I noted that I had highlighted verses 31-36 but did not highlight verse 34. Here is the entire passage.

For who is God, but the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God? — the God who equipped me with strength and made my way blameless. He made my feet like the feet of a deer and set me secure on the heights. He trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You have given me the shield of your salvation, and your right hand supported me, and your gentleness made me great. You gave a wide place for my steps under me, and my feet did not slip.
Psalms 18:31-36 (ESV)

Why didn’t I highlight verse 34?

He trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
Psalms 18:34 (ESV)

I didn’t want to associate God with war. For so many years, I was told that God is love, and, indeed, He is. But this is not the complete personality of God. Our very souls are in a continual spiritual battle with Satan. It is a battle that we have no way of winning unless God intervenes and save us. Satan hates God and everything associated with Him. Satan’s wages war on our souls by inciting our pride and appealing to the lust of our eyes, flesh, and body. But God’s weapons are infinitely stronger than Satan’s. When we confess our sins, repent and accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, He gives us His Holy Spirit to indwell within us. He illuminates our mind to understand the meaning of His Word, the Bible. He empowers us to resist the schemes of Satan. He readies our hands and trains our entire being for war!

The entire Bible is to be read and believed. We cannot cherry pick verses from it only to satisfy our idea of what we think God should be. God is sovereign! He is love and He is the supreme Judge of the universe. And if we are to obey and trust Him, we need to have a complete understanding of who He is.

He is God, there is no other!

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life. 

"Do As I Say, Not as I Do! (Proverbs 4:7)

I am sometimes perplexed when I read Proverbs. Most of the proverbs were written by Solomon, probably one of the wisest men who ever lived. In spite of his wisdom, he did not heed his own words. Late in his life, his heart followed after other gods and he married many foreign women, explicitly disobeying God’s commands. Composing so many of his proverbs later in his life, it was almost as if Solomon were following the old adage, “Do as I say, not as I do!”

As I write these daily devotional blogs, I often reflect upon what I have written. Do I also live with a similar hypocrisy? If I write about the perils of pride, do I take it to heart and obey God’s commands? Or do I secretly boast in my heart over my accomplishments and drop subtle hints to those around me? Do I control my anger and guard my tongue? Or do I disguise a slanderous statement or gossip as frank speaking? I am definitely guilty of, “Do as I say, not as I do!”

The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight.
Proverbs 4:7 (ESV)

All of God’s Word is wisdom. It  needs to permeate every fiber of our body and direct all of our actions and thoughts. But wisdom is not enough. It is only by the illumination of the Holy Spirit within our lives will be able to be fully transformed by this wisdom and gain insight. How can we receive the Holy Spirit? Confess and repent of your sins and acknowledge Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. And the moment you do, the Holy Spirit will indwell within you and begin the transformation.

Once you are saved, you yield and obey the Holy Spirit. God loves us but still allows us free will to resist and disobey His leading and teaching. This is what I have done so many times in my life. I am not proud of this and the only reason I can keep confessing my sins and returning to God is because of His grace and mercy. He still loves me and accepts me, in spite of hypocrisy and lack of insight. By His grace we have been saved through faith.

Get wisdom and get insight. Whatever you say, do!

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.

"Our Reputation is Far Better on the Outside" (1 Kings 12:4)

Many years ago, I served as a consultant dermatopathologist for a pathology group in a very prestigious hospital. A former professor of mine during residency was now one of the group’s senior pathologists. We were very close during residency and I looked forward to catching up with him upon our initial reunion.

As we reminisced over our shared times together, I expressed to him my gratitude for allowing me to be a consultant dermatopathologist to his colleagues and to teach his pathology residents. I shared with him that I had always admired his hospital and its pathology group, even expressing my desire to work there. He paused for a second, then leaned over to me and coyly smiled, “Our reputation is far better on the outside than on the inside!”

I was shocked! His words were shattering my long-held image of his group and hospital. He then divulged many disturbing examples of the petty politics and puerile behavior that dominates his everyday life within the department and hospital.  At the end of the conversation, I reluctantly began to see the truth of his words. The facade of a prestigious hospital was shattered.

The Bible gives us many examples of shattered facades. Rehoboam was the son of Solomon. When he became King, the nation of Israel was at its peak of power and prestige. But serious problems lurked below this pristine facade. His father, Solomon, had heavily taxed the people and foreigners in the land to support a lavish lifestyle and the building of the magnificent temple of God. When Rehoboam became King, his rival Jeroboam, representing a large group of disgruntled Israelites, approached him with his grievances and a request.

Your father made our yoke heavy. Now therefore lighten the hard service of your father and his heavy yoke on us, and we will serve you.
1 Kings 12:4 (ESV)

Rehoboam spurned the advice of the elderly counselors of his father Solomon and instead heeded the advice of the young men who had grown up with him. In a fateful pronouncement, Rehoboam told Jeroboam,

And now, whereas my father laid on you a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke. My father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.
1 Kings 12:11 (ESV)

That was the tipping point! Seething rivalries, resentment, and jealousies that were suppressed for so many years now emerged and broke through the peaceful facade. Jeroboam stormed away, taking with him 10 tribes of Israel and leaving Rehoboam as the king over Judah. The kingdom was split in two. Years of civil war, unrest, and willful defiance of God ensued with the eventual destruction of both Israel and Judah.

Like the prestigious hospital where I once eagerly sought to work, Israel had serious internal problems, unseen to the outside world but well-known to its own people. God sees beyond any facade any person or organization wishes to project. We desperately need His guidance to submit to His authority in every aspect of our lives. He knows our heart and deepest secrets and, if we have confessed and repented of our sins and accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, will transform us into the image of His Son, Jesus Christ.

Amen!

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life. 

"Call Me Stuart!" (Romans 8:16-17)

My residency training observed a strict hierarchy amongst the attending physicians and professors and resident physicians. We were instructed to address all attending physicians as Doctor. Some habits die hard. Even after we graduated and left the program, most of us felt uncomfortable to address former attendings and professors by their first names.

One professor made it easy for all of us. I had not interacted with him for about 5 years, since graduation. One day, I consulted with him about a problematic case which I was reviewing. I called him on the phone and when he answered in his familiar voice, I replied, “Hi Dr. Smith! It’s Paul.”

Without missing a beat, he said, “It’s Stuart. Call me Stuart.”

The silence on the phone betrayed my obvious confusion.

“Paul, when you were a resident, it was Dr. Smith. Now that we are colleagues, we are on a first name basis.”

Got it!  We were now equals and colleagues, regardless of whether I felt I deserved to be dignified with that status. I felt privileged and apprehensive at the same time-privileged to be considered an equal, apprehensive that I would not live up to his expectations.

The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs — heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
Romans 8:16-17 (ESV)

Privileged and apprehensive. This is how I sometimes feel as a believer in Jesus Christ and a child of God. By trusting in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, I have been adopted as a fellow heir with Jesus Christ; God views me as His son. I am privileged to be dignified with this status. I am also apprehensive since I know I always do not live up to the expectations of God. By my own efforts, I will never live up to God’s expectations nor would I even deserve to be viewed as worthy to stand before Him. I am a sinner by birth and nature. It is only by the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ that I am able to be accepted as a child of God. I have the privilege to address God as my Father. And I need not be apprehensive because God continues to transform and conform me to the image of His Son Jesus Christ, through the renewing and sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit.

Amen!

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.

Thirty Years of Bad Habits (1 Corinthians 15:58)

Last month I was bothered by an increasing pain in my upper back. It was particularly sharp whenever I would sit at my microscope to work. After a period of self-examination and research, I diagnosed the problem as a strain in my right rhomboid muscle, a muscle located between the spine and shoulder blade, immediately below the trapezoid.  For years, I had been sitting at my microscope with an incorrect posture, hunched over and putting undue pressure on this muscle. The remedy was a series of stretching exercises and a change in the way I sat when I used my microscope. Within about a week after starting these exercises and implementing a positional change, the pain was greatly diminished. But I was under no illusion that I was cured. The steps I had taken were unlikely to immediately reverse the effects of thirty years of bad habits.

It has also been over thirty years since I first accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. But as in my professional life, I have acquired many bad spiritual habits. Like my bad posture, the habits began innocently but with time, grew into a significant problem. One habit is my dismal record of memorizing Bible verses. In the beginning, I was content to memorize the classic promise verses of the Bible (e.g. John 3:16). But I soon grew lazy. While I am familiar with many verses and can generally quote the idea of the passages and find its location in the Bible, I do not have God’s Word memorized and on my mind during every moment of the day. It is embarrassing and shameful and when faced with a difficult life situation, I cannot immediately bring God’s Word to mind.  I have taken the steps to correct this situation. But it will take time to reverse the effects of thirty years of bad habits.

Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
1 Corinthians 15:58 (ESV)

Bad habits may have a subtle beginning and the damaging effects may not be seen until years later. And the time that it took for the bad habit to become ingrained as bad behavior may take even longer to reverse. Thanks be to God who is merciful in His grace to me to continue to transform me into the image of His Son, Jesus Christ, even when I am so stubborn, lazy, and defiant. He is the reason that my labor is not in vain.

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.

"You Need to Do This To Make Partner!" (Colossians 3:23-24)

My first job as a physician was with a very large and prestigious pathology group. I had to work for 4 years before I was eligible for partnership. It was only eligibility because after 4 years, all of the current partners would meet and review my performance and decide whether I would be offered partnership.

During these 4 years, other partners would offer sage advice. “You need to do this to make partner!” Some took the time to outline different activities that would enhance my visibility and credibility. I had to make myself indispensable to the group.

Thankfully I did make partnership. But as I reflect upon my activities during this period in my life, I realize that I lived with a constant paranoia that all of my actions were being scrutinized and judged. If I erred, my first thought would not be for the patient, it would often be, “Oh no! Will this affect my chances to make partner?”

My priorities were skewed, distorted and awry. I was focused upon myself when I should have focused upon my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. My concern should have been pleasing God rather than pleasing man.

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.
Colossians 3:23-24 (ESV)

There is one fact during this period in my life for which I am absolutely assured. All of my actions were being scrutinized and judged-by God. My continual stubbornness and sinful desire to do things my way clouded my vision resulting in my disobedience and lack of trust in Him. Thanks be to God for His mercy and grace that kept me with Him even when I was so willfully conceited.

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.

"I Don't Even Understand Myself! (Ecclesiastes 12:12-13)

Recently, I was privileged to attend a panel discussion at the local high school addressing teenage drug and alcohol abuse. The panel consisted of former students, parents, a police detective and a teen psychologist.

One insightful statement was made by a 19 year old panelist, a recovering alcoholic. “Parents, you have to keep talking to us. I know it’s hard. You are trying to help us understand ourselves. But I don’t even understand myself!”

It was an honest and insightful moment. How does one understand oneself? Sadly for many of us, regardless of our age, the answer is still elusive. We may read self-help books, attend seminars, even seek wise counsel from mentors, teachers or trusted family members. All of these are important first steps, but the first step to understanding oneself is answered by God.

My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh. The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.
Ecclesiastes 12:12-13 (ESV)

The author of Ecclesiastes was most likely Solomon. He may have been the wisest man who ever lived and at the end of his life, Solomon reflected upon his own life and the world in which he lived. Not surprisingly, the same questions that were asked thousands of years ago are still asked today. But can it be as simple as this? Is it simply fearing God and keeping His commandments?

Yes, it is that simple. But it is impossible, if we rely upon our own efforts. God gave us His laws and commandments to show us how far removed we are from living a life that is obedient and faithful to God. The commandments are our tutor to bring us to Jesus Christ and the Cross. It is only by acknowledging that we are utterly helpless by our own efforts, confessing our sins, repenting, and turning to Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, can we begin to live the life that God created us to live.

The former students who were recovering alcoholics were beginning to understand themselves. But the full realization only comes at the Cross. We only truly understand ourselves when we understand how God sees us.

Love and trust the Lord, seek His will in your life. 

Dromedary (John 7:46)

In the summer before my 7th grade, I took a class that, to this day, remains the most useful class that I have ever taken. I learned to type. This was in the days before personal computers and the internet. We learned on a typewriter, and not on an electric one, it was a classic manual typewriter. Both of these are relics and I have not seen one in an office for many years.

As useful a skill as learning to type, the class also gave me a bonus lesson. The teacher would test our speed and accuracy by giving us a list of vocabulary words, and not ordinary everyday words. Although I have forgotten most, one word remains vividly clear in my memory-dromedary. This is a one-hump camel. I didn’t know it at that time but I have never forgotten it since. We had weekly tests and the spellings and the meanings were drilled into me. Years later, as amusing as it sounds, I cannot help but think of this teacher whenever I see or read about a camel! I don’t know if he would be flattered if he knew that fact!

So there was a division among the people over him. Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him. The officers then came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, “Why did you not bring him?” The officers answered, “No one ever spoke like this man!”
John 7:43-46 (ESV)

Even if the interaction was brief, certain people in our life may evoke strong memories. Words or phrases that they said or actions they did resonate within our soul and never leave it. As I ponder this passage from John, I wonder how many of the officers remembered what Jesus said after the recorded incident? I wonder if Jesus’ words ever brought them to a saving grace by accepting Him as their Lord and Savior? Perhaps someday, in Heaven, I will meet some of them. What a grand reunion that will be as we reflect upon that brief episode in their lives!

Like my typing teacher and the words and actions that I will always associate with him, Jesus’ words and actions remind us that our lives on this earth are for one purpose, to glorify God who is in Heaven. And we can only do this by accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. Our initial interaction with Jesus may be brief-a random passage from the Bible, a street preacher holding up a sign, or a moment of reflection upon what life really means. But no matter the brevity of the interaction, if you confess your sins, repent and call upon Jesus to save you, He will keep His promise and grant you eternal salvation.

The briefest of interactions for an eternity of blessings!

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.

"I Downsized My Girlfriend Out of Her Job! (Psalms 55:12-14)

Many years ago, I was on staff at a hospital that was going through a painful round of budget cuts and downsizing. Every department in the hospital, including the laboratory, was targeted. A young man, with a freshly minted M.B.A., arrived with his entourage. He had been hired by the hospital to lead the downsizing efforts. He was an excellent example of zeal without knowledge. Although he was well-versed in number crunching and improving the bottom line, he had absolutely no experience in the nuances of laboratory workflow and instrumentation. Some of the recommendations he made were not only ludicrous, it also violated accepted federal laboratory regulatory standards and guidelines. Undaunted, he pushed on toward his goal of downsizing. In a reflective moment, he grinned and boasted, “Yeah, on the last assignment I had, I downsized my girlfriend out of her job!”

What a great catch he was!

Betrayal. We all know what it is and probably have all experienced it. The last thing this man’s girlfriend was expecting was that he would betray her by eliminating her job.

For it is not an enemy who taunts me—then I could bear it; it is not an adversary who deals insolently with me—then I could hide from him. But it is you, a man, my equal, my companion, my familiar friend. We used to take sweet counsel together; within God's house we walked in the throng.
Psalms 55:12-14 (ESV)

The Bible reminds us that God understands what it means to be betrayed. In this psalm, David laments his betrayal by a close friend. What hope is there in this life when this happens? God answered David a few verses later.

But I call to God, and the Lord will save me. Evening and morning and at noon I utter my complaint and moan, and he hears my voice.
Psalms 55: 16-17 (ESV)

God sees us, hears our complaints, and knows our suffering. Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, was betrayed by one of His own disciples. The rest of the disciples fled from Him in His moment of greatest need. Yes, God does know our suffering when we are betrayed. But He also has the answer. If you confess your sins to Him, repent, and accept Him as your Lord and Savior, He will save your soul. The betrayal will not disappear but the sting and pain will be replaced by His peace and love.

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.

Come On! (Psalms 37:23-24)

I like to play a little game with my son when he and I are walking. I hold his hand and walk a few steps faster, literally dragging him along. As soon as he catches up, I re-start the cycle and bolt ahead. Every few seconds I will look back to him. He is usually grinning or laughing. He trusts me and knows I will not let go of him nor would I lead him into danger. If my son ever attempted to fight me, he knows it would be futile, I am simply too strong.

The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way;
though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds his hand.
Psalms 37:23-24 (ESV)

When God leads me along an unfamiliar path, I often do not have the same confidence and trust that my son has in me. Even though God’s grip is strong, I fight it and am insistent on heading in the direction of my choosing. After all, I know myself, I know what is best. I know the best direction for my life! If I witnessed my son attempting to go in his own direction when I am holding his hand, I would probably laugh. I can only imagine how amusing and pathetic it must seem to God when I do the same thing.

Thanks be to God that He will never let go of me, in spite of my worst efforts to have my way! By His grace and mercy, I have trusted in His Son, Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. And He delights in me when I allow Him to lead.

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.

AAA or AAAA? (Luke 14:8-11)

A quick perusal of the phone book or any directory would yield some interesting facts. Some companies jockey for the position to be listed first. Thus, they will append prefixes to their company names like A-1 Mechanics or AA Repair. This trend has been taken to a whole new level with companies now listing AAA Plumbing or even AAAA Electrical. All this to be placed first!

So much effort to be first. I suppose we owe it to the hypercompetitive society that we live in, that ingrains within us, the “Me First!” mentality.

What a difference and welcome answer that Jesus Christ gives to us!

When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest someone more distinguished than you be invited by him, and he who invited you both will come and say to you, “Give your place to this person,” and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place. But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, “Friend, move up higher.” Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.
Luke 14:8-11 (ESV)

I often wonder what would happen if the world emulated this humble attitude and followed Jesus’ teachings? The world sometimes equates humility and meekness with passiveness or weakness. But nothing could be further from the truth! Jesus Christ was the most humble and meek man who ever lived and He accomplished more in His lifetime than anyone who has ever lived or ever will live. How? He took upon Himself the punishment that all mankind deserved for rebelling against God. In a supreme moment of love and humility, He died on the Cross and God resurrected Him from the dead. And because of this, everyone who confesses their sins, repents and acknowledges Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior will be saved.

Me first?

Yes, God did put your needs first by dying for you. Won’t you trust Him with your life?

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.

Many Kinds of Birth (John 3:3-7)

When I was a third year medical student, I did my 2 month rotation through obstetrics and gynecology. I assisted on dozens of deliveries. Amongst the many memories I have of these experiences, I always marveled at how varied the birth experiences were for mothers. Some would yell, scream, and curse. Others would cry with pain and joy. Still others barely uttered a sound, perhaps a slight grunt or moan with heavy breathing. Every childbirth was different but the outcome was the same...a new birth and great joy!

Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘“You must be born again.”
John 3:3-7 (ESV)

Like the different reactions of the birthing mothers, with every new believer, every spiritual rebirth by the Holy Spirit is different. One brother in the Lord told me that it was a gradual awareness and understanding. Another shared how he came to God sobbing upon his hands and knees. For me, it was a long sleepless evening of tossing and turning in bed, attempting to resist the Holy Spirit’s calling to me. After several hours, I sat up in my bed and said, “Ok God, you win! I give my life to you. Jesus Christ, I accept you as my Lord and Savior!”

Was there a flash of light? Did I hear a choir of angels singing? Did my senses become supernaturally heightened? No. But like millions of other believers before me and since, the outcome was the same; I knew I had been spiritually reborn and was now a child of God.

Every spiritual birth is different but the outcome is the same. God has saved us to bring glory to His name and Kingdom by accepting His Son, Jesus Christ, as our Lord and Savior!

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.