The Gathering Place Where Family Matters

“I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me” (Psalm 101:3).

Bob and his team often flew across country for their work. It was a big project that Bob and his team members were leading. Their flight arrived at a little after 7 o’clock in the evening, giving them some free time before their presentation at the large corporation the next morning. The other men went to the bar for drinks but understood that Bob was a Christian and would not be joining them for that part of the evening. He spoke on the phone in his room with his wife and little children and reminded them of how much he loved them. He told each of them how much he missed them and would look forward to flying home later the next day. After the telephone conversation Bob turned the television on to listen to some news. There on the motel television was the advertisement for adult pay-per-view movies. The producers made it as easy as possible to order these films by promising never to divulge the movie titles. A very strong temptation struck Bob. The little voice said, “No one will ever know.” It was at this moment that Bob remembered his pastor’s message from several weeks ago. His pastor had presented in a very strong way the truth of the verse that we used today in our daily prescription. When David set no wicked thing before his eyes, his life was blessed. When he stopped and gazed at Bathsheba and gave in to the temptation, his life was never the same. Bob will never forget that night in the motel room when he cried out to the Lord and went straight to the news station. How about you? What have you been looking at lately?

“And He that sent Me is with Me: the Father hath not left Me alone; for I do always those things that please Him. As He spoke these words, many believed on Him” (John 8:29-30).

Don was enjoying the many opportunities that came to him to be a testimony and witness for the Lord Jesus. Teaching English as a Second Language afforded him the privilege of meeting many individuals from diverse backgrounds and religions. After one of the classes, Ly Tong asked Don for a few more minutes of his time. He was curious about Don’s testimony and he’d become more and more restless and dissatisfied with the religion of his ancestors. Quietly and graciously Don said to Ly Tong, “My Savior, the Lord Jesus, is the only One who lived a perfect life. Everything He did pleased His Father. That’s why He could take my sins upon Himself. He not only died and shed His blood, He rose again the third day, and, Ly Tong, He very much wants to be your Savior as well.” It is so amazing. As many people believed on the Lord Jesus 2000 years ago, many are still coming to discover that He is the incredible Savior and believing on His name today.

For today: I wonder who the Lord Jesus will bring into your life today who needs Him?

“And it came to pass, when the time was come that He should be received up, He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem” (Luke 9:51).

It was the most difficult thing Jane had ever faced in her life. She often thought back to that dreadful day nearly a year ago when she was an eyewitness to a horrific traffic accident. A drunk driver swerved into oncoming traffic and caused a head-on collision that killed the other driver and severely injured two of his passengers. Jane knew the day would be coming that she would have to go to court and testify against the driver who was highly intoxicated. She had never been in that situation before, and she was absolutely dreading it. Her apprehension grew to the point where she could hardly eat without becoming ill. She knew that the defense attorney as well as the prosecutor would be questioning her as to what she saw and observed on that terrible day. In her daily Bible reading Jane came to the text of Luke chapter nine. Although she had read through this Gospel book many times, the record of how the Lord Jesus knew that His time had come and how He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem never got old. This precious truth gripped her in a new and marvelous way. The Lord Jesus understands her because He faced something that would be profoundly difficult for Him to do. While her situation was very easy compared to His, this wonderful truth helped her in ways that were powerful and precious. The day came for her to testify. On the way into the courtroom Jane whispered to the Lord, “We are doing this together, Lord. Thank you for your presence and power.”

“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart; be acceptable in Thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer” (Psalm 19:14).

The McGuiness family waved good-bye and shouted a thank you once again as they piled into their fifteen-passenger van. They were ready to head home after a wonderful evening with one of their church families. It had been a delightful evening with the Miller’s at their large farm house. Dad quieted the van load of family and passed the flashlight to the oldest child. It would be too late in the evening for meaningful devotions by the time they arrived home. For their family devotions, the McGuiness family was reading from the Psalms. In the darkness, reading by flashlight, Jeremy read from Psalm 19. Dad seized the opportunity to teach his children a little more about their words and their thoughts. A precious prayer time took place in the very dark van as the family traveled on. After prayer it was very quiet, or at least it was until Kathryn said to Josiah, “I’m sorry I called you a dumb head. My words weren’t right because my ‘medication’ was wrong.” After quieting the giggles, Mom helped Kathryn learn the difference between the words “meditation” and “medication.” A couple of hours later when all the children were sound asleep, Jeff whispered to his wife Karen, “Sometimes my words aren’t right. It must be because of my ‘medication’ being wrong!”

For today: How are your words and the meditation of your heart?

“The LORD is known by the judgment which He executes: the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion. Selah” (Psalm 9:16).

First, let’s deal with the two words in the text. Higgaion is the word for “meditation.” The idea of Selah may be a beautiful musical term. One of my Bible college professors always said, “The word Selah means, now stop and think of this!” Second, what must you and I be meditating upon in stopping to think?It is the powerful reminder that we cannot get away with sin. I will never forget that day even though it took place over forty-five years ago. My father had given me permission to drive his car from our home to the church to turn the heat on. As soon as I could see that the furnace was working properly and that the little country church was heating up, because I was a new driver, I was to drive straight home. The roads were slippery that morning, and I was not to be out driving except to the church and home again. I decided to take just a little joyride and then head for home. Sure enough, my right front tire began to slide in the snow and ice and after a few seconds of a terrifying ride I was sitting on top of a four foot snow bank. My sin now entrapped me. That is exactly what David is speaking about in this hymn of his. It was a painful experience. What a vivid reminder for all of us as we think about this throughout the day. Sin usually appears to us as harmless, enticing, and no one will ever find out! But this simply is not true.

For today: If we would think before we act today, it might save us from some painful lessons!