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Devotional

Good News Bears

August 3, 2024

About a week ago, I was thinking about the 1976 movie The Bad News Bears starring Walter Matthau. The screenwriter wrote an offensive line coming out of the mouth of an 11-year-old. The fruit of his mouth reflected what he was taught by those close to him.

And I’m sure you’ve also heard the phrase, “(S)he is bad news!” That’s the kind of person you stay away from because they’ll likely bring trouble into your life.

Well, the reverse is also true—good news bears.

The Greek word for “gospel” is euangelion, which is made up of eû (good) and ángelos (messenger). The good news (gospel) of Jesus Christ produces good fruit through those willing to allow its seed to penetrate deeply into the soil of their hearts. (See Luke 8:5-8)

Eternal life, which is supernatural life, is the fruit of intimacy. The scriptures teach us that knowing God and His Son Jesus is eternal life (John 17:3). From that union with God, like a branch connected to the vine, good and lasting fruit is produced.

Good fruit is born from a good tree. John the Baptist exhorted us to “produce fruit in keeping with repentance” (Matt 3:8). When you turn away from anything that produces spiritual and physical death and cultivate an intimate relationship with God through Jesus, you will bear good fruit.

Cultivating intimacy with God and remaining in his presence through His word and prayer, will produce supernatural fruit in your life through His power.

Let’s be mindful of who we align ourselves with, what news we receive in our hearts, and what fruit we are producing.

BIBLE VERSES TO STUDY

I am the vine, you are the branches; the one who remains in Me, and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in Me, he is thrown away like a branch and dries up; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you remain in Me, and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. —‭‭John‬ ‭15‬:‭5‬-‭8‬ ‭NASB

A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. —‭‭Matthew‬ ‭7‬:‭18‬ ‭NASB

What a beautiful sight to behold— the precious feet of the messenger coming over the mountains to announce good news! He comes to refresh us with wonderful news, announcing salvation to Zion and saying, “Your Mighty God reigns!” —‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭52‬:‭7‬ ‭TPT‬‬

Hace una semana, estaba pensando en la película de 1976 The Bad News Bears (Los Osos de Malas Noticias), protagonizada por Walter Matthau. El guionista escribió una frase ofensiva que salió de la boca de un niño de 11 años. El fruto de su boca reflejaba lo que le habían enseñado sus allegados.

Y estoy seguro de que también has oído la frase: “¡(Ella) es una mala noticia!”. Ese es el tipo de persona de la que te alejas porque es probable que traiga problemas a tu vida.

Bueno, lo contrario también es cierto: las buenas noticias también traen fruto.

La palabra griega para “evangelio” es euangelion, que se compone de eû (bueno) y ángelos (mensajero). Las buenas noticias (evangelio) de Jesucristo producen buenos frutos a través de aquellos que están dispuestos a permitir que su semilla penetre profundamente en la tierra de sus corazones. (Véase Lucas 8:5-8)

La vida eterna, que es vida sobrenatural, es el fruto de la intimidad. Las Escrituras nos enseñan que conocer a Dios y a su Hijo Jesús es vida eterna (Juan 17:3). De esa unión con Dios, como una rama conectada a la vid, se produce fruto bueno y duradero.

De un buen árbol nace buen fruto. Juan el Bautista nos exhortó a “producir frutos dignos de arrepentimiento” (Mateo 3:8). Cuando te alejas de todo lo que produce muerte espiritual y física y cultivas una relación íntima con Dios a través de Jesús, darás buen fruto.

Cultivar la intimidad con Dios y permanecer en su presencia a través de su palabra y oración, producirá fruto sobrenatural en tu vida a través de su poder.

Seamos conscientes de con quién nos alineamos, qué noticias recibimos en nuestro corazón y qué fruto estamos produciendo.

VERSÍCULOS DE LA BIBLIA PARA ESTUDIAR

Yo soy la vid, vosotros los sarmientos; el que permanece en mí, y yo en él, ése da mucho fruto; porque separados de mí nada podéis hacer. El que no permanece en mí, es desechado como sarmiento, y se seca; los recogen, los echan al fuego y arden. Si permanecéis en mí, y mis palabras permanecen en vosotros, pedid todo lo que queráis, y os será hecho. Mi Padre es glorificado en esto, en que llevéis mucho fruto, y seáis así mis discípulos. —Juan 15:5-8 NVI

No puede un árbol bueno dar frutos malos, ni un árbol malo dar frutos buenos. —Mateo 7:18 NVI

¡Qué hermoso espectáculo es ver los preciosos pies del mensajero que viene por las montañas a anunciar buenas noticias! Viene a refrescarnos con noticias maravillosas, anunciando la salvación a Sión y diciendo: “¡Tu Dios Poderoso reina!” —Isaías 52:7 TPT

Devotional

Secrets of the Redwood Forest (Strong Roots)

September 6, 2023

Redwoods on a trail along the Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway in Northern California. Photo / Merwyn Sanders II (2022)

The coastal redwoods, found mostly in Northern California, Oregon, and Washington, are the tallest trees on Earth. The secret strength that upholds these giant trees is found in their roots. They only go 6-12 feet deep but extend up to 100 feet wide and interlock with neighboring redwood trees.

Imagine a wide root system spread out underground giving it stability above ground through strong winds, earthquakes, storms, and floods. Their scientific name attests to their durability; sequoia sempervirens, which means “evergreen or everlasting.”

Roots are vitally important because they provide nutrients and stability. This is true in our spiritual life as well. However, their only as strong as the source of their strength.

dark night of the soul

Recently, I went through what could be described as a ‘dark night of the soul.’ The built up of stress at work revealed unresolved trauma from the past and erupted as severe anxiety coupled with depression for over a month. I was off work during that time and ended up making a prayerful decision to resign from a job I was at for 9 years that I viewed more as ministry than work.

However, when mechanisms are not in place to support staff, burnout usually follows. It was one of the hardest experiences I’ve been through. I’m still processing what led me to that place, the loss, the disappointment, but most importantly, discovering new depths in my relationship with God.

There’s always hope when we cry out to the God who loves us and who has promised to never leave us. And this love can reach us in varied ways. One of the ways God comforted and sustained me was through my friends. These friends prayed for me, nurtured me, fed me, listened to me, encouraged me, and presented the light of love in what felt like the darkest of nights, at the time. I know I would’ve made it through even if I was alone, but I wonder how long that would have taken. There is a reason why God once said that it is not good for man to be alone.

fellowship & unity

One of my takeaways from that recent experience is the value and necessity of fellowship with other like-minded believers. Just like the redwoods whose root system is comprised of the interlocked roots of many trees; our strength is found in unity of the faith. There were several key practices, many which were done daily, that contributed to the stability of the early Church and that can model that unity.

“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” Acts 2:42-47

When you fellowship with other believers, especially around the intimacy of a familial table, you’re taking the time to invest in getting to really know each other and share life’s journey, the good, the bad, and the ugly. You value each other, stir one another to love and good works, build each other up, you worship, pray, and learn together, and you share in the communion of Christ’s death, and meet each other’s needs. From this safe place you venture into ministry. On the other hand, a life lived in isolation breeds hopelessness, loneliness, and weakness.

rooted takeaways

  • We are connected to each other.
  • What we consume affects our brothers/sisters in Christ.
  • If we stay connected, we will get through life together.
  • The source of our strength holds our position and posture.

We’re living in a time when ‘church’ as we’ve known it may change and the call back to small intimate gatherings in homes may be necessary. With this in mind, I encourage you to begin to build some intimate relationships with brothers and sisters and start with a simple dinner around a table. This is what I now value and know to be necessary.

Bible Study

Lessons from a Dodo

March 17, 2023

The dodo bird is extinct. So, what can I say about a flightless, homely-looking bird that isn’t around anymore? It couldn’t soar like the eagle due to its stubby, powerless wings and it couldn’t even strut around proud as a peacock covered with gray down instead of feathers. Yet its legacy lives on 300 years later in our modern-day vernacular, “You dodo bird!” 

The dodo was first discovered living in the palm and tropical fruit-tree dense forests of the island of Mauritius off the coast of Africa in 1598 by Dutch and Portuguese explorers. They named it dodoor, which means ‘sluggard’ in Dutch and doudou, which means ‘simpleton’ in Portuguese.  

The dodo bird frolicked on the island with no need to migrate to far-off lands. It had sufficient fair to eat and no apparent enemies on the island. Over time this ancestor of the pigeon lost its ability to fly because it had no reason to. However, when the ravenous, seafaring sailors came to the island they hunted the birds. They also brought carnivorous dogs, cats, and pigs with them, and most likely stowaway rats. This sudden new threat endangered the species and eventually contributed to its disappearance. 

The dodo was caught off guard. Being isolated and conditioned to live carefree didn’t prepare it for the danger that would devour its paradisiacal and inexperienced existence. It lacked the biological response animals have to acute stress coined, fight or flight. The dodo didn’t fight to protect itself or escape capture. It didn’t disappear physically or even disappear in place by playing dead or camouflaging itself with a change of colors, like the chameleon. Its adrenaline-charged self-defense reflex didn’t budge, which would have heightened its speed, force, sight, hearing, thinking, or flying. Even if it had tried to fly away, it wouldn’t have succeeded. Because it hadn’t branched out to discover other realities. It clipped its own wings. 

Many of us can’t interpret the danger signs against our very lives. We’re not privy to the enemy’s tactics bent on our destruction. We ignore the world, the flesh, and the devil as real threats, like the dodo bird living on an island, indulging itself and unaware of an existing enemy.  

The apostle Peter teaches us to “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8) 

What does it mean to be sober-minded or of a sober spirit? 

When we think about being sober the first thing that pops into our minds is abstaining from intoxicating or addictive substances such as alcohol and drugs.  

Allowing our minds to be influenced, manipulated, or controlled by the spiritual forces of darkness is just as harmful as introducing foreign or dangerous substances into our physical bodies. The problem is that these influences usually masquerade themselves under the guise of widely accepted cultural practices, ideologies, religions, fads, and entertainment.  

Many professing Christians have become desensitized to these deceptions, easily accepting worldly standards instead of God’s plumbline of truth. It takes wisdom from the Holy Spirit to know the difference between worldly and Christian values.

Believers succumb to the lust of the flesh, the pride of life, and the lust of the eyes; tempted by the physical world and its desires, looking to notable celebrities and the latest guru instead of seeking the kingdom of God for spiritual instruction. If we look, sound, and act like unbelievers that’s a sure marker that we’re off course spiritually.

We have a critical choice to make. We can sway on a hammock, holding a piña colada in one hand and our cell phone in the other and be a prime target for the enemy, like the dodo bird of years past, or we can prepare ourselves to fight the good fight and escape the snare of the enemy.  

Recently, I had a conversation with a pastor, and he reminded me that it takes daily discipline to pray, study the word of God, and introduce Godly-inspired habits that will help us manage the flesh and its lusts because temptations are always willing to come knocking, especially when our defenses are down. 

To be sober-minded or free from intoxicating influences such as lies, pleasures, and worldly riches, we must know the truth found in God’s word which will help us stay alert and prayerful. The most important thing that should be in our hands is the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God; it is the only offensive weapon in the armor of God.  

We must know the word of God, believe the word of God, and wield the word of God! 

Devotional

Breaches

June 27, 2016

Abandoned homes are a sore sight – boarded windows, overgrown grass, missing doors. And when a home is abandoned it becomes susceptible to breaches. Obviously this happens because the house is not maintained and looked after. Certain areas become weak over time and simply fall apart, forming entryways for unwanted guests and pests. The damage can be costly and devastating.

Sometimes the damage can be repaired and sometimes it can’t and the only option is to tear down and rebuild. If only someone had taken the time for maintenance. Most likely the damage could have been prevented.

This can be the case with our lives and our relationships.

According to good ole’ Webster, a breach is …

  1. infraction or violation of a law, obligation, tie, or standard
  2. (a) a broken, ruptured, or torn condition or area; (b) a gap (as in a wall) made by battering
  3. (a) a break in accustomed friendly relations; (b) a temporary gap in continuity: hiatus
  4. a leap especially of a whale out of water

I believe that we are walking temples that need constant care in body, soul, and spirit. And all to often we experience signs of spiritual dehydration due to our wanton wandering. We’ve walked away from truth, from God, from covenants, from our callings, and from the destiny of our true selves.

If we fail to pause, reflect, and choose new thoughts and behaviors, not only will we suffer but those around us will as well. Taking care of our temple, what’s inside, and what it surrounds itself with is not only our right but our duty.

Breaches affect our identities, our spiritual, physical, and mental health, our relationships, our churches, our cities, and our nations. Whether we’re trying to avoid or repair a breach the following four power points can help put some focus on the areas to work on.

To avoid breaches we need upkeep.

Good maintenance demands nutrition, rest, and prayer. The first two can be understood from a physical and a spiritual perspective. If we don’t take care of ourselves physically through diet, exercise, and sleep, we will not function at our optimal best and at worst, can become ill. And if we don’t take care of ourselves spiritually through an intimate relationship with God we’re setting ourselves up for a breakdown that can affect the soul (mind, will, and emotions) and the body.

To avoid breaches we need integrity.

God requires truth in the inward parts. Embracing truth keeps you sound. Lies cause division and confusion. Without truth it’s impossible to have integrity. Our integrity is guided by moral principles. And for integrity to take root we need to be consistent in godly thoughts and behaviors when we are around people and when we are by ourselves. Being a man or woman of integrity gains trust and builds and maintains solid relationships.

To avoid breaches we need security.

Someone or something is constantly influencing our minds and hearts. Either we take charge or we’ll be taking in whatever the world throws at us. Choosing what are five senses will be allowed to entertain is crucial. What we focus on will form us. Knowing what we stand for and what we want our life to be about is key. If it doesn’t line up with our principles and life goals let’s shut the door. If we are not proactive with the life we want to live, others will most definitely determine it for us. That includes our beliefs, our for-life partners, our friendships, and our callings.

To avoid breaches we need humility.

Humble hearts have followed their Master, leaned their head against His shoulder, and washed His feet with their tears. We need to humble ourselves before God and each other in a spirit of peace and forgiveness. This is the doozy because it goes straight against the human ego to be right, to be in control of our lives, and to feel a sense of superiority. Having a teachable spirit is a major key to receiving God’s wisdom.

Abandoned dwellings are a waste. But if they’re still standing there’s always hope for repair, for rebuilding, for disposing and replacing. There’s also hope for those who have breaches in their personal lives and relationships. Isaiah 61:4 says, And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations and they shall repair the former cities, desolations of many generations.

It’s time to repair the breaches and rebuild our lives!