Where My Treasure Is

John 10:9-11; Matthew 6:19-20, 33

My pastor likes to remind us that the Devil’s purpose is to steal, kill and destroy. 

He steals our peace.

He kills our hope.

He destroys our faith.

When we are aware of Satan’s activities we are more equipped to fight against him. If I’m worrying about a difficult circumstance and can’t find peace, when negative thoughts chase themselves around in my brain all night, it might help to know that Satan is at work encouraging me to worry more. 

The answer, of course, is to pray. If I turn my concerns over to God, He will give me peace.

But perhaps there’s a more fundamental solution to the problem. Maybe there’s a lifestyle change I can make that will keep me from worrying in the future.

My devotions recently have taken me to the Sermon on the Mount where Jesus tells us how to trust God. The key lies in where our treasure is. If my treasures are stored in heaven, they won’t rust and can’t be stolen. If my treasures are stored on earth, they’re vulnerable to rust and theft.

My treasures, of course, are the things I value most. The things I love. There are lots of things I love on earth.

My home

Serving others

Family and friends

Being creative by writing and sewing

Activities like reading, swimming, gardening

While all these things are good, they can be destroyed. They can rust or be taken from me. Satan can use them to destroy my peace and trust in God.

On the other hand, the thing I love in heaven is God. So if I obey another verse from the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6:33) and put God first – treasure Him above everything else – I will not only have a treasure that can’t be stolen, but He’ll also give me everything else I need.

Protecting myself from Satan is simple. Just put God first.

It’s also the hardest thing to do.

Selfish Sorry

Psalm 38

David was in great pain, presumably as a result of unconfessed sin. In the midst of his moaning about his pain, he confessed the sin. Then he urged God to save him. This raises a question about repentance.

Am I sorry for the bad things I’ve done or am I sorry for the consequences of the sin?

Am I sorry I have offended God and hurt people or am I sorry because I feel badly about it?

Repentance requires a recognition of my sin.

Recognition of sin makes me sorry that I did it.

Sorrow makes me feel badly that I’m a sinner.

Forgiveness makes me feel better.

So here’s the dilemma. When I repent, do I ask for forgiveness so I’ll feel better?

While I was writing my chapter of A Dozen Apologies, I wrestled with this problem. Mara, the main character asked a lot of men for forgiveness. She did it in obedience to Jesus’ instruction that we should be reconciled to anyone who has something against us before we offer our sacrifice on the altar. (Matthew 5:23-24) It was a really hard thing for her to do. But some of them questioned her motives. Did she say she was sorry because she wanted to be forgiven or because she was sorry?

When I sin, should I say “I’m sorry”or should I just say “Please forgive me?”

Maybe this is a false dilemma. But I think it addresses the true nature of repentance. It makes me look a little deeper when I see my sin. It makes me turn to God to ask for true repentance.

Mara’s journey of repentance is being published right now. You can read her story here. I hope you enjoy it.

Truth and Joy

Psalm 1

This is my life passage. It’s where I got the title of this blog and you’ll recognize the quote at the top of the page. My name, Phyllis, means green leaf in Greek, so I have naturally clung to verse 3. I want to be a tree that never withers, that bears fruit. I want to prosper in all l do. To do that, I have to follow verse 2. I have to delight in God’s law and meditate on it all the time.

So it’s fitting that when a friend told me she picks one word to focus on each year, I immediately knew that my word for this year is truth. God’s law. God’s Word.

There’s only one problem. Even though the year is barely begun, the truth of my sinfulness has become very apparent to me. I’m more like the worthless chaff than I am like the fruitful tree.

Instead of relying on God’s Word for direction, I sometimes look to secular sources. I take the advice of the wicked.

When it comes to hot cultural issues, too often my attitude lines up people who aren’t concerned with what God thinks about things. I stand around with sinners.

And here’s the worst. I often speak without thinking and end up hurting people with my words. I join in with mockers.

These are truths about me that grieve me because they grieve my Lord. They are not pleasing to Him and they rob me of the joy He wants to give me. I’ve spent the last few days grieving over a specific circumstance in which I acted like a sinner. I’ve repented and done what I could to make amends, but the joy is still missing.

So what can I do?

Delight in the law of the Lord. Spend more time reading it. Pray using the words of the scripture. Claim the promises. And ask God to use His words to transform me into His image.

I’m only godly because of Jesus, but I can rest in that assurance. And because of that I know that He  watches over my path. So I can walk forward this year with His eye on me. And I know that as I meditate on His Word, my leaves will turn green and I’ll bear fruit.

And my joy will return.

Give Your Father Joy

Proverbs 23:22-25

I’m blessed that my father is still in this world. I don’t get to see him often, but it’s such a comfort to know he’s here loving and praying for me and available when I need his wisdom. But sometimes I forget that I’m here to love him as well. Children are a blessing from God. That’s me, God’s blessing to my father.

So naturally, I should do whatever I can to bring him joy. The wisdom of Proverbs tells me how to do that.

Listen to him. 

Daddy has lived a long life of serving God and he has great stories about his experiences and about the people he’s known. I like his stories, but like many older people, he tends to repeat them. That shouldn’t matter. It brings him joy to share his walk with God. It brings me pleasure to hear about it. 

Get the truth and never sell it.

I learned God’s truth from my parents, but as I began to grow up I encountered different interpretations of the Bible and I explored new ideas. Because I was grounded in the truth I didn’t stray and I have realized that the more I read the Word, the more my father’s understanding of it is confirmed. When Daddy and I talk about the Bible, I can tell this brings him joy.

Get wisdom.

My father is a wise man. I’ve come to him for advice many times and I’m always impressed with his knowledge of scripture and his ability to apply it to my circumstances. I love that I’m the one who’s blessed when I listen to him.

Get discipline.

I remember coming into the dining room when I was a very young child. The breakfast dishes hadn’t been cleared yet but the room was empty. I got caught licking the jam off a piece of leftover toast. My punishment was not being allowed another treat with the rest of my siblings because I had already had mine. I’d like to say I learned from the experience, but I’m afraid I’m sometimes still that little girl indulging herself when no one is looking. But God is at work transforming me through discipline and I know that Daddy is pleased when he sees the evidence.

Get good judgment.

Daddy drives all his kids crazy when he has to make a decision like buying a car. He researches all the options and then talks them over with each one of us many times, telling us what everyone else thinks. His decision making can be agonizing, but in the end he makes good decisions. I’ve learned to slow down and think through my own decisions because of his example.

Be godly.

After walking with God for 75 years, my father is as close to being a godly man as anyone I know. It makes me proud to be his daughter and I hope that he can take joy in watching me grow towards godliness as he has. 

I love Daddy and I hope that these things in me make him happy. As I bring my earthly father joy, I know that my Heavenly Father is also pleased.

Remain Confident

Psalm27

There’s so much to be afraid of. A man could walk into my grandson’s school and shoot him. The economy could keep getting worse and we won’t have enough to live on when we retire. One of the terrorist groups could get through our defenses and bomb my home. This year a hurricane could hit Myrtle Beach. Someone I love could get cancer (again).

I don’t really sit around worrying about these things. I know God cares for me and will take care of me and those I love.

This Psalm reinforces that. God is our light and our salvation. God’s light is more than being able to see. God’s Light (Jesus) is what saves us. And that salvation is so much more than just knowing I’m going to heaven.

According to the Psalmist:

I don’t need to be afraid; I can be confident even if I’m attacked.

I can live in the house of the Lord where He will hide me when troubles come.

God has called me to fellowship with Him and He will hold me close, even if others abandon me.

He will teach me how to live and lead me along the right path.

These promises aren’t just what I can look forward to in Heaven. I will see His goodness while I’m alive.

All I have to do is wait patiently for Him.

There’s so much I could be afraid of. But there’s no need. The light is shining and He will and does save me.