Lori Hatcher's Blog: Refresh Blog, page 13

A Little Lesson in Big Generosity

When was the last time something moved you to tears—in a good way?

Tender tears filled my eyes, of all times, at a family Easter gathering.

It had been a glorious day. Rainy skies had given way to sunshine just in time to welcome churchgoers. Our sanctuary rang with triumphant voices declaring in unison, “He lives! He lives! Christ Jesus lives today!” We gathered afterward at my daughter’s home to eat ham and mac and cheese and to watch my grandkids hunt for Easter eggs. (No judgment, please. These kids know full well that Easter is all about Jesus.)

While I distracted the kids, my husband and son-in-law hid 112 plastic eggs filled with Starburst® candies, coins, and a few dollar bills. We turned the children loose in the backyard, and within minutes each had found their allotted twenty-seven eggs. Collin (age 3) needed help, and the big kids were glad to oblige.

After the hunt was over they scattered to different corners of the living room to open their eggs and count their loot. Like most children, they love candy and Starburst is their favorite. It wasn’t long before the floor was strewn with wrappers and all four were munching happily. 

Later, I wandered into the backyard to enjoy the sunshine. I spotted seven-year-old Caroline and Collin huddled at the foot of the stairs. 

“Close your eyes, Collin. No peeking.” She stroked his head once and flitted off with two colored eggs in her hands.

Collin squinched his eyes shut, happily chewing a pink Starburst.

“Okay,” Caroline declared in a voice that sounded a lot like her mama’s, “you can open your eyes now. Go find the eggs.” He scampered off. Soon he was back, eyes sparkling and grinning widely, with two eggs clutched in his sticky hands. He popped them open, shook out the candy, and handed them back to Caroline.

It wasn’t until I watched the scene repeat itself three or four times that I realized where Caroline was getting the candy to fill Collin’s eggs. She was taking it from her own Easter basket.

Her pile of Starburst was shrinking rapidly but she didn’t seem to mind. (And trust me, this wasn’t like sharing black jelly beans with your sibling because you think they taste gross. This girl loves Starburst.) Apparently, she loved seeing her little brother smile even more.

And that’s when tears filled my eyes.

Expressions of generosity often make me cry, especially those of sacrificial generosity. I suspect this is because generosity doesn’t come easily to me.

I was born selfish. Being the beloved firstborn who could do no wrong in my parents’ eyes didn’t help. For many years my obedient personality hid my deeply selfish and self-centered heart. I never would have shared my candy with my siblings. I’d have been the one trying to persuade them that black jelly beans really do taste better than pink ones, and wouldn’t they like to trade?

Besetting Sins

Each of us has our besetting sins and one of mine is selfishness. As a teenager I cared only about what I wanted. What was best for me. I obeyed my parents’ rules when it benefited me. I worked hard because it advanced my agenda. I willingly received and grudgingly gave—never sacrificially.

Then I became a Christian. But I was still selfish. Old habits die hard, and this aspect of my sinful nature stuck around. 

In my Bible reading so many verses mentioned giving:

“Don’t neglect to do what is good and to share, for God is pleased with such sacrifices.” (Heb. 13:16).
“Honor the LORD with your possessions and with the first produce of your entire harvest” (Prov. 3:9).
“Each person should do as he has decided in his heart—not reluctantly or out of compulsion, since God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Cor. 9:7).
“Give to everyone who asks you, and from someone who takes your things, don’t ask for them back” (Luke 6:30).

God’s Word gently pricked and instructed my heart. I learned my possessions didn’t belong to me but to God (1 Cor. 4:7). My job wasn’t to amass a fortune but to manage my resources in a way that honored Him and accomplished His purposes in the world. 

One year I kept a gratitude journal. Each day I listed three blessings I was thankful for. By the end of the year I had an overwhelming record of God’s consistent and bountiful goodness to me. Not only did God’s goodness cause me to grow more thankful, it also helped me become more generous. Generosity naturally flows out of a grateful heart.

As I watched others give generously I started asking God to help me see similar opportunities. I learned that giving isn’t only about money. I could also give generously of my time, talent, and prayers. I could bless others and honor God with my words, kind deeds, and even a smile.

Whenever I felt God nudging me to give, instead of automatically saying no, I’d pray about it. Sometimes He’d confirm His will through a passage I read in the Bible or input from my husband or other wise counselors. Once I was sure of God’s leading I learned to obey as quickly as possible. I remembered a wise mentor’s words, “To delay is to disobey.”

One night a decade or so into our marriage, my husband and I attended a banquet for a crisis pregnancy center. As we heard story after story of babies saved from abortion, my heart thrilled.

“David,” I said, “they’re doing a good work. We have to help them. How much can we give?”

My question shocked him. Usually he was the one encouraging me to give but now, wonder of wonders, I suggested it first.

His grin made me realize what had just happened. Tears sprang to my eyes. Thank you, Lord, for reproducing your generous heart in me. Help me learn to always say yes when You prompt me to give.

A Slow Process

I admit my transformation has been a slow process. Sinful tendencies don’t change overnight. Sometimes I relapse into my selfish ways, but now I’m quicker to recognize my sin, confess it, and make it right.

For some, like my husband and our little Caroline, giving comes easily. If you’re one of these people, God bless you. Keep giving as an example to the rest of us.

If you struggle to give, ask God to make your heart like His.

If you struggle to give, ask God to make your heart like His. Ask Him to remind you of the many ways He has blessed you with material and spiritual blessings. Cultivate an attitude of gratitude which will help you fight selfishness and entitlement. And give— even if you don’t feel like it. 

When I sense God’s prompting and obey, even when I don’t feel like it, sometimes I feel a sense of satisfaction because I know I made the right choice and obeyed God.

Other times I sense God’s pleasure. I can almost hear Him saying, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matt. 25:21).

Other times, like our sweet Caroline, I experience the sheer joy of sharing with someone and watching them smile. This joy is sweeter than a hundred Starbursts. 

“It is more blessed to give than to receive,” Jesus told His disciples (Acts 20:35), and it is true.

Well Done

The morning after Easter, before anyone else awakened, my son-in-law opened the front door to leave for work. There on the top step sat a note written in a childish scrawl. Only for Caroline. On the note lay seven Starburst candies.

“Who left this on my porch?” my daughter wrote on social media and posted a picture.

“God did,” I texted. “I don’t know who He used to deliver it, but I suspect it’s His way of telling Caroline, ‘Well done.’”

Someday I hope to hear those words. How about you?

This post first appeared on ReviveOurHearts.com.

About Refresh Your Hope,
60 Devotions for Trusting God with All Your Heart

How can you hold on to hope in an uncertain world? Especially when experiencing disappointments, setbacks, and discouragement? In Refresh Your Hope, Lori Hatcher invites you to renew your confidence and courage by calling attention to the remarkably good news—you have a hope greater than you could ever imagine.

 

An unshakable hope.

 

In this uplifting, Scripture-driven 60-day devotional, Lori returns to our rock-solid foundation—God’s amazing promises and His faithful character. Each warm, story-based reading will help you grow closer to God as you reflect on His assurances, His generous nature, and His unwavering commitments. Strengthen your prayer life with thought-provoking prompts. Replace anxiety with joy, peace, and trust while encountering Bible truths about the ultimate Source of hope.

Available now on Amazon.com, Christianbook.com, and other fine retailers.

Why not share a copy with a friend who could use a fresh dose of hope?

Have you subscribed to Refresh?

If you’d like to receive a weekly 5-minute devotion to help you rediscover the excitement of God’s Word, CLICK HERE.

The post A Little Lesson in Big Generosity appeared first on Lori Hatcher.

              Related StoriesPlease Stop Bashing the ChurchWhat to Do When the Task Is Great and You Are SmallThe Simple Habit that Knit Our Hearts Together 

Please Stop Bashing the Church

Almost every day I see a social media post about what’s wrong with the church. College students are leaving by the thousands. Young adults say the church has damaged them forever. People are hurt, they’re never coming back, and they want everyone within their social media circles to leave with them. I hear you. I feel what you feel. I’ve lived some of the stories you’ve lived. But I will never leave the church. And neither should you. As kindly as possible, I have one thing to say: 

Stop bashing the church.

I’ve been a Christian for more than 30 years. I’ve attended large churches, small churches, and medium-sized churches. My husband and I have been members, lay leaders, and staff. 

Between the two of us, we’ve served in every volunteer position imaginable, from janitor to Sunday school teacher, nursery worker to youth minister. We’ve scrubbed toilets, tables, and toddlers, and prayed, played, and paid. We’ve invested our time, money, and energy into this thing called the church, and we love it. We believe in it, and we plan to serve it until we die. 

Here are five good reasons why: 



1. Because Jesus Christ loved the church and gave himself for it (Eph. 5:25).

He didn’t love online communities, parachurch organizations, or social clubs. He loved the church—so much that He died for it. In my opinion, that’s reason enough to stop bashing it. 

2. Because churches are made up of imperfect people like you and me. 

Immature, selfish, inconsiderate, and sometimes rude. Loving, caring, sacrificial, and sometimes beautiful. We are flawed and frail, but little by little, God is changing us and making us more like Jesus. You wouldn’t leave a hospital because there were sick people in it, and you shouldn’t leave the church because there are sinners in it. Sick people go to a hospital because they’re sick, and sinners go to a church because they’re sinful. The transforming power of Jesus is the only hope we have for change, and Jesus does his best work through the church. 

3. You cannot separate Jesus from the church. 

When Jesus left the earth, he told his disciples to remain in Jerusalem until he sent the Holy Spirit. Then he instructed his apostles to evangelize and plant churches in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the uttermost parts of the earth. Through divine inspiration he gave them instructions for church government, discipline, and worship so they could do everything “decently and in order” (1 Cor. 14:40). The book of Acts is a glorious testimony of how Christ sent disciples everywhere to establish local congregations of believers, complete with leadership and governments. 

4. People have died for the privilege of meeting together to worship God. 

Our forefathers dedicated their lives to birth a nation that granted its citizens the freedom to attend church. Generations of brave men and women have died on foreign battlefields to defend our religious freedoms and protect our country from godless attacks. Believers in China, Saudi Arabia, India, and North Korea risk their lives daily to meet together to worship and study the Scriptures. To forsake the free exercise of our right to assemble as a church is a slap in the face to those who long for and died for this privilege. 

5. The church was God’s idea. 

Jesus told Peter, “… you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church” (Mat. 16:18). He promised to sustain and protect it, “and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” Through salvation Christ initiated believers into a universal church, but he also placed them in local churches. As in the book of Acts, he continues to grow the church. “And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved” (Acts 2:47). 

I know atrocities have been committed through the ages in the name of God and the church. Some churches have strayed from the tenets of Scripture and morphed into cultic caricatures as far from the true church as cardboard façades are to marble mansions. Ministers and churches have neglected their duties, betrayed their members’ trust, and abused their power. Congregants have wounded their sisters and brothers with cruel actions diametrically opposed to the teachings of Scripture. 

Much wrong has been done in and through the church, but thousands of good, pure, sacrificial, and lovely acts have also been done. These actions trump and triumph over Satan’s pitiful attempts to misuse, malign, and misrepresent the Bride of Christ. 

We need the church (Acts. 12:5, Heb. 10:24-25).

Now more than ever, in a culture increasingly hostile to people of faith, we need each other. Persecution is coming, and like the unsuspecting lamb is vulnerable to a wolf’s attack when it wanders from the flock, so are we dangerously unprotected from Satan’s schemes when we forsake our flock and go it alone. 

The church is vital to help us grow in our faith, hold us accountable, pray for us, and help us in our time of need. If you’ve ever experienced the love of a local church during a time of tragedy, sickness, or loss, you know there is no greater expression of God’s care on earth than that of a body of believers rallying around its own. 

In our 30+ years as believers, local churches have support us when my husband lost his job, counseled us when our family struggled, and comforted when we experienced the deaths of two sisters, a brother, and a grandmother, all in the same year. 

But not only do we need the church, the church needs us (1 Cor. 12:28).

God could easily do his work on earth by himself, but he chooses to let us be part of it. By serving others through a local church, we participate in the work he’s doing in the world. As we spend our time, money, and energy serving others, God blesses us in ways we could never imagine. Best of all, we become the hands and feet of Jesus. 

Is there a lot wrong with the church? Yup. But there’s also a lot wrong with us. Until we reach perfection (which won’t happen on this earth), can we legitimately hold a body of similarly imperfect believers to a standard we can never hope to attain? 

If you attend a local church that loves God deeply, serves God sacrificially, and shares God liberally, rejoice. If you attend a church that falls short of Christ’s plan for his body, extend grace, forgive as you’ve been forgiven, and look for ways to make it better. And if you honestly feel there’s too much wrong in your local congregation to redeem, find another place to worship. God’s people are everywhere, and they’ll be glad to welcome you in. 

But whether you choose to stay or choose to go, 

please, stop bashing the church.

This article first appeared on Crosswalk.com, June 1, 2016.

About Refresh Your Hope,
60 Devotions for Trusting God with All Your Heart

How can you hold on to hope in an uncertain world? Especially when experiencing disappointments, setbacks, and discouragement? In Refresh Your Hope, Lori Hatcher invites you to renew your confidence and courage by calling attention to the remarkably good news—you have a hope greater than you could ever imagine.

 

An unshakable hope.

 

In this uplifting, Scripture-driven 60-day devotional, Lori returns to our rock-solid foundation—God’s amazing promises and His faithful character. Each warm, story-based reading will help you grow closer to God as you reflect on His assurances, His generous nature, and His unwavering commitments. Strengthen your prayer life with thought-provoking prompts. Replace anxiety with joy, peace, and trust while encountering Bible truths about the ultimate Source of hope.

Available now on Amazon.com, Christianbook.com, and other fine retailers.

Why not share a copy with a friend who could use a fresh dose of hope?

Have you subscribed to Refresh?

If you’d like to receive a weekly 5-minute devotion to help you rediscover the excitement of God’s Word, CLICK HERE.

The post Please Stop Bashing the Church appeared first on Lori Hatcher.

              Related StoriesWhat to Do When Faith Becomes ComplicatedWhat to Do When the Task Is Great and You Are SmallThe Simple Habit that Knit Our Hearts Together 

What to Do When Faith Becomes Complicated

Would you say your life has gotten more or less complicated as time goes on? 

I suspect most of us would say, “More.” 

Take child rearing, for example. We didn’t realize when we brought our three-day-old baby home from the hospital that caring for the needs of a newborn is rather simple. Keep them warm, dry, and fed. That’s pretty much it. 

Now consider the needs of a teenager. Without even listing their needs (which I considered doing, but it made my head hurt), you’ll agree they’re far more complex than the needs of a newborn. 

What about our professions? 

When I was 12 years old, I delivered newspapers. Now I write for them. Waaaaay more complicated than picking up a paper, stuffing in an ad circular, and flinging it in a customer’s door. 

For years, I thought the faith life also grew more complicated as time passed. 

When I was a new believer, the faith life was quite simple. Trust and obey. Trust God with every area of my life – my decisions, my direction, my destiny. Obey his word. As best I can, with the Holy Spirit’s help, obey what he tells me to do through the Bible, sermons, and the input of godly men and women. 

But then it got complicated.

I learned big words like election and predestination. Propitiation, regeneration, and sanctification. Legalism, hedonism, and sectarianism. I grew bogged down with head knowledge but didn’t experience much practical growth. I learned a lot, and thought a lot, but not much of what I discovered translated into practical Christian living. 

Then the tide turned. 

I committed to read my Bible through in a year. (It took me 15 months.) The more I read, the more I learned. Theology, yes, and a greater understanding of how God’s plan of salvation worked itself out through the ages. How grace and law danced in perfect partnership. 

But more than that, I learned about the heart and nature of God.

I heard him express his pleasure in us, his creation, when he declared, “It is very good.” 

I heard him weep as he slaughtered the first innocent lamb to cover Adam and Eve’s sin. 

I heard his heart crack open as he banished the man and woman from the Garden and sentenced them to work “by the sweat of their face.” 

My journey through the Bible showed me how God set before his people every blessing and promise imaginable – theirs for the taking – if they would simply walk with him all the day of their lives.

“This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live,” God pleaded with his people (Deuteronomy 3:19). 

And I read the unimaginable horrors of what life in rebellion to God looks like. Because God is a righteous and just God, he had to punish sin. And he did, when his people rejected the thousand second chances he mercifully extended and flaunted their sin in his tear-stained face. 

As I’ve journeyed through the Bible year after year, I’ve learned that the Christian life isn’t complicated after all. It’s really quite simple. 

I’ve come full circle to the mantra of my early days: Trust and obey. 

Trust God with every area of my life – my decisions, my direction, my destiny. Obey his word. As best I can, with the Holy Spirit’s help, obey what he tells me to do through the Bible, sermons, and the input of godly men and women. 

A scene unfolded outside my window recently that summed up what I’ve learned. 

An elderly grandfather and his tiny granddaughter walked down the road. They held hands, which wasn’t hard, because the grandfather’s stooped back brought his hand to the perfect height for his granddaughter to grasp without stretching. 

Their pace was matched, toddling and shuffling in awkward tandem. As they walked, they stopped to marvel at a dandelion, a butterfly, a neighbor’s friendly cat. Delighting in the simple wonders, they were more similar than their eighty-year age gap might allow. 



This grandfather, the CEO of a successful company in his prime, had come full circle. 

Following the footsteps of a tiny girl, wide-eyed with toddler wonder, he was relearning the joy of simple truths. 

The same is true of the faith life. When you strip away dialogue and the diatribes, the theology and the theoretical, what’s left are these simple truths: Trust and obey. 

Perhaps this is why Jesus asserted, “Unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3). 

If you’ve wandered from the simple path and find yourself snarled in a tangle of complexity, open your Bible and your heart. 

Become like a little child. 

Trust and obey. 

About Refresh Your Hope,
60 Devotions for Trusting God with All Your Heart

How can you hold on to hope in an uncertain world? Especially when experiencing disappointments, setbacks, and discouragement? In Refresh Your Hope, Lori Hatcher invites you to renew your confidence and courage by calling attention to the remarkably good news—you have a hope greater than you could ever imagine.

 

An unshakable hope.

 

In this uplifting, Scripture-driven 60-day devotional, Lori returns to our rock-solid foundation—God’s amazing promises and His faithful character. Each warm, story-based reading will help you grow closer to God as you reflect on His assurances, His generous nature, and His unwavering commitments. Strengthen your prayer life with thought-provoking prompts. Replace anxiety with joy, peace, and trust while encountering Bible truths about the ultimate Source of hope.

Available now on Amazon.com, Christianbook.com, and other fine retailers.

Why not share a copy with a friend who could use a fresh dose of hope?

Have you subscribed to Refresh?

If you’d like to receive a weekly 5-minute devotion to help you rediscover the excitement of God’s Word, CLICK HERE.

The post What to Do When Faith Becomes Complicated appeared first on Lori Hatcher.

               
CommentsWhat to Do When Faith Becomes Complicated by LoriAHatcherIn Cooking and in Life, Trust the Baker by LoriAHatcherDo You Know How to Protect Yourself? When Christian Leaders Fall by LoriAHatcherWhat to Do When the Task Is Great and You Are Small by LoriAHatcherThe Simple Habit that Knit Our Hearts Together by LoriAHatcherPlus 5 more...Related StoriesIn Cooking and in Life, Trust the BakerWhat to Do When the Task Is Great and You Are SmallThe Simple Habit that Knit Our Hearts Together 

In Cooking and in Life, Trust the Baker

I should have listened to my friend Karen. “Sprinkle the nuts in the bottom of the pan, then arrange 15 frozen bread balls on top.” 

I was listening, really I was, but when I stood in the kitchen looking into the Bundt pan, fifteen just didn’t look right. They barely covered the bottom.



I think she said 15. But maybe I didn’t hear her right. Or maybe her pan is smaller than mine.

I looked again at those meager globs. That doesn’t look like much at all, and we have seven people to feed. It wouldn’t hurt to throw in a few more. 

So I did. Ten more to be exact. 

Then I poured the butter over the top, covered the pan in plastic wrap, and went to bed. As instructed. All night long I dreamed of gooey sticky buns. 

The next morning I awoke to a disturbing message from my daughter, texting from the kitchen. 

There’s been an explosion. 

At first I thought she was referring to one of the grandchildren. The one who still wears diapers. But then I remembered the sticky buns. 

A second message vibrated my phone. It was a picture of my sticky buns. Mushrooming from the Bundt pan like a size 18 lady wearing a size 12 pants. 

It won’t fit in the oven, she texted. What do I do?

I’m ashamed to admit there have been quite a few times in my life when I’ve been convinced I know more than the expert. I don’t follow the doctor’s recommendation. I disregard directions on the back of a bottle. I ignore the maintenance light on the dash. 

Sometimes I even think I know more than God. Imagine that. 

I react angrily despite his warning that “human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.” 

I stay up past midnight working despite his reminder, “It is vain for you to rise up early, To sit up late, To eat the bread of sorrows; For so He gives His beloved sleep“ (Psalm 127:2). 

I worry despite his call to “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6-7). 

I ignore God’s instructions and go my own way, dismissing the instructions and principles he’s given me for holy, healthy, productive living. And then I’m surprised when things don’t turn out right. 

Anger injures my relationships and damages my testimony. Lack of sleep reveals my lack of trust and endangers my health. Anxiety steals the joy from my days and the sleep from my nights. 

Like my friend Karen knows the intricacies of her recipe, God knows every detail of my life. And the world in which I live. And the future I hope to inherit. He provides principles to live by, hope to cling to, and a future to dream of. 

Why, oh why would I ever think I know better than he? 

After lowering the oven rack, I gingerly placed the pan of bread dough in the oven, watching it warily through the glass door. The heat stopped the dough from rising any farther, and before long it was cooked. I flopped it onto a (rather large) plate and sighed. My pan of sticky buns bore little resemblance to the picture-perfect masterpieces my friend Karen makes. 

The extra dough stuck out everywhere, the inside hadn’t cooked thoroughly, and instead of being drenched in buttery caramel, much of the bread was crispy and dry. It was edible, but very different from the yummy dessert I’d hoped to enjoy. 

When I disregard God’s instructions for living, the same thing happens. Bits and pieces of our lives stick out everywhere, rebelliously refusing to stay in the margins. Some parts are under done, immature and stunted. I don’t achieve the full potential God intends for my life. 

Whether we’re talking about sticky buns or our Christian life, we have the greatest chance of success when we trust the Baker and follow the instructions. 

“Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones” (Proverbs 3:7-8). 

Now it’s your turn. When have you failed to follow instructions (either man’s or God’s) and regretted it? What did you learn from your experience? Share your story in the comment box below. 

About Refresh Your Hope,
60 Devotions for Trusting God with All Your Heart

How can you hold on to hope in an uncertain world? Especially when experiencing disappointments, setbacks, and discouragement? In Refresh Your Hope, Lori Hatcher invites you to renew your confidence and courage by calling attention to the remarkably good news—you have a hope greater than you could ever imagine.

 

An unshakable hope.

 

In this uplifting, Scripture-driven 60-day devotional, Lori returns to our rock-solid foundation—God’s amazing promises and His faithful character. Each warm, story-based reading will help you grow closer to God as you reflect on His assurances, His generous nature, and His unwavering commitments. Strengthen your prayer life with thought-provoking prompts. Replace anxiety with joy, peace, and trust while encountering Bible truths about the ultimate Source of hope.

Available now on Amazon.com, Christianbook.com, and other fine retailers.

Why not share a copy with a friend who could use a fresh dose of hope?

Have you subscribed to Refresh?

If you’d like to receive a weekly 5-minute devotion to help you rediscover the excitement of God’s Word, CLICK HERE.

The post In Cooking and in Life, Trust the Baker appeared first on Lori Hatcher.

              Related StoriesWhat to Do When the Task Is Great and You Are SmallThe Simple Habit that Knit Our Hearts Together10 Unshakeable Reasons to Hope – Today and Every Day 

Do You Know How to Protect Yourself? When Christian Leaders Fall

When was the last time you cried over another Christian’s moral failure? 

I cried today. 

But I wasn’t crying over the mega-church pastor from Georgia who resigned his church over an emotional affair, even though that hurt my heart. Or the local leader who was arrested on child pornography charges. I wasn’t even crying over the associate pastor who’d discipled my neighbor – while embezzling thousands of dollars from the church’s bank account. 

Today I cried for one of the most well-known leaders of the Christian (and Jewish) faith – Aaron the high priest. 

The owner of an impressive pedigree, Aaron was an unlikely candidate for spiritual and moral failure.

He was: 

A Hebrew born into slavery in Egypt. 

The son of Jochebed and Amram and brother to Moses. 

The primary spokesperson for God (and Moses) as God prepared to deliver his people from slavery in Egypt. 

He’d been Moses’ COO, the media specialists for the greatest escape of all time, and the voice that spoke God’s words to Pharaoh. He’d heard God speak, bridged the gap between Moses and the Israelites, and stood beside his little brother on the scary walk to Pharaoh’s throne room. 

He’d held the rod that became a serpent, seen the death angel pass over the Hebrew camp, and stepped onto the dry riverbed of the Red Sea. He’d eaten food that came from God’s hand, drank bitter water turned sweet, and witnessed the glory cloud of God descend upon the mountain. Most miraculous of all, he, his sons, and 70 elders had seen God – and lived. 

Aaron’s Fall

Yet while Moses and God transcribed the Law onto stone tablets on top of Mt. Sinai, Aaron descended into idolatrous worship at its base. Sucked into doubt, fear, and disbelief, he caved to the pressure of the crowd and turned his back on everything he believed. 

How can a man who has known God so intimately fail so profoundly? And how do we – frail humans who won’t see God face to face until heaven – have any hope of standing firm until the end?

Our Fear

Do you ever fear you might behave so faithlessly that you bring shame to yourself, your family, and your ministry? Even worse, that you might fail so profoundly that you drag God’s name through the muck of sinful choices and give God’s enemies reason to rejoice? Or that the saved and the unsaved might have to stumble over your soiled example on their path to Jesus? 

I don’t normally ponder these dark, sobering thoughts. But Aaron’s failure, right there on the pages of Scripture, paired with recent accounts of godly men turning their backs on God brought me here. It comforts me to know the great apostle Paul feared the same things. 

In 1 Corinthians 9:27, he confessed to being afraid, after having preached to others, that he would be “disqualified.” Set aside. Hamstrung in his spiritual race to finish well. 

Paul’s Fear

But Paul’s fear didn’t paralyze him, and our fears don’t have to, either. Instead, it fortified his determination. And it led him to take concrete steps to guard against moral and spiritual failure. 

“I beat my body and make it my slave,” he declares. My desires won’t rule me. With God’s help, I’ll rule them. 

He, too, remembered all the reasons Aaron and the children of Israel had to stand firm in God. “They walked through the sea on dry land. Followed the cloud in the desert. Ate manna from heaven and water from a rock.” 

But just experiencing God’s power isn’t enough, he says. We must intentionally guard ourselves against loving the things of this world more than the God of the heavens. Against sexual immorality. Against our tendency to test God’s patience and grumble about what we don’t have instead of expressing gratitude for what we do (1 Cor. 10:1-10). 

Take heed, he warns, “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! (v. 10:12). 

The Rescue Ring of Hope

And then he tosses the rescue ring of hope: “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it” (v. 10:13). 

The devil be damned! Christ in us IS greater than the greatest temptation. We don’t have to fall victim to Satan’s schemes and the Siren’s song of the world and the flesh. We have a race to run. A prize to claim. A Savior to honor. And a declaration to hear – “Well done, good and faithful servant.” May it ring in our ears for all eternity. 

No to Sin and Yes to Jesus



Every time we say no to sin, we say yes to Jesus.

Every time we erect boundaries to protect our purity, we say no to sin and yes to Jesus. 

Every time we change the channel, close the account, or delete the email, we say no to sin and yes to Jesus. 

Every time we give ourselves to God’s kingdom instead of our own, we say no to sin and yes to Jesus.

We’re not doomed to fail because other mighty men and women have failed. We are positioned to succeed because God promises a way of escape for every temptation we face. 

And He will give us the courage to take it. 

4 Steps to Guard Ourselves

If we want to guard ourselves from being disqualified, we should: 

1. Never think we’re above moral or spiritual failure. It could happen to anyone. This is why we must remain vigilant. 

2. Check our hearts regularly. What do I love? Where will my current path lead me? Where do I spend the majority of my time, energy, and thoughts? 

3. Erect boundaries around everything we hold dear: our spiritual lives (are we spending time with God every day?), our physical lives (are our habits healthy and holy?), and our relationships (if God was an unseen guest in this relationship (and He is), would he be pleased with what he saw?) 

4. When temptation comes, look for the escape. Then take it. Like Joseph did. And Daniel. And Paul. These men are inspiring examples of people dedicated to “Well done” living. 

When We Blow It

And if you blow it like Aaron did? Confess. Repent. Forsake. 

While the consequences of spiritual and moral failure are great, God’s forgiveness is greater. First John 1:9 points to the way back: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 

We are never out of God’s reach of forgiveness and restoration. When Aaron followed the people in sin instead of taking a stand for righteousness, he brought great harm to many. But when he and the people humbled themselves, grieved over their sin, and wept in prayer, Moses interceded for them, and the God of mercy and grace gave them all a second chance. 

He renewed his covenant with the nation, promising to go ahead of them into the Promised Land and deliver them from their enemies. The Israelites recommitted themselves to the Lord, with Aaron, their high priest, leading the way. 

Today, ministers or Christian leaders who fall can’t and shouldn’t immediately be allowed back into leadership simply because they’ve confessed and repented. This isn’t the point of this post. The point is that we can never out-sin God’s grace and his willingness to forgive. When one of his children sincerely repents, he will always forgive us. We may have to live with the consequences of our sin for a lifetime, but we can forgive ourselves and move forward, knowing God has forgiven us. 

What About You?



How about you? Do you fear failing the Lord? Which protective suggestions mentioned above can you put into place to guard yourself? Or maybe you feel like you’re not likely to fall? That temptation is something other people struggle with? Has Aaron’s example caused you to reconsider this? 

Or perhaps you’ve already failed. You assume there’s no hope that God would ever want to use you again in his service? Does 1 John 1:9 give you hope that perhaps there’s a way back after all? 

Wherever you find yourself today, talk to God about it. Take the necessary steps to move forward, and watch what he will do. 

And my tears over Aaron this morning? 

While they began with sorrow over his tragic sin, they ended with gratitude over God’s forgiveness and restoration. What a God we serve. 

About Refresh Your Hope,
60 Devotions for Trusting God with All Your Heart

How can you hold on to hope in an uncertain world? Especially when experiencing disappointments, setbacks, and discouragement? In Refresh Your Hope, Lori Hatcher invites you to renew your confidence and courage by calling attention to the remarkably good news—you have a hope greater than you could ever imagine.

 

An unshakable hope.

 

In this uplifting, Scripture-driven 60-day devotional, Lori returns to our rock-solid foundation—God’s amazing promises and His faithful character. Each warm, story-based reading will help you grow closer to God as you reflect on His assurances, His generous nature, and His unwavering commitments. Strengthen your prayer life with thought-provoking prompts. Replace anxiety with joy, peace, and trust while encountering Bible truths about the ultimate Source of hope.

Available now on Amazon.com, Christianbook.com, and other fine retailers.

Why not share a copy with a friend who could use a fresh dose of hope?

Have you subscribed to Refresh?

If you’d like to receive a weekly 5-minute devotion to help you rediscover the excitement of God’s Word, CLICK HERE.

The post Do You Know How to Protect Yourself? When Christian Leaders Fall appeared first on Lori Hatcher.

              Related StoriesWhat to Do When the Task Is Great and You Are SmallThe Simple Habit that Knit Our Hearts TogetherHow to Lead Our Children to a High View of God 

What to Do When the Task Is Great and You Are Small

Of all the men and women we read about in the Bible, who do you most identify with?

Maybe you’re a prayer warrior like Daniel (and can tell a few stories about being thrown into the lion’s den for it). 

Or perhaps Peter could be your Bible double because you act first and think later. 

Many feel a heart connection to Martha, the busy lady who forgot that spending time with Jesus is even more important than doing stuff for him. 

My Doppleganger

Today, as I read the story of Gideon, I found myself nodded in empathy and identification. I get Gideon, because I often live in his skin. 

You may remember that Gideon lived during the time of the judges, Israel’s yoyo period when they vacillated between serving God and serving idols. When we join the narrative in Judges 6, the Israelites were again serving idols – and suffering at the hands of their oppressive neighbors, the Midianites. 

Like teenagers at an all-you-can-eat buffet, the Midianite raiders would descend on Israel at harvest time, consuming their crops and destroying their fields and farms. “So Israel became poverty-stricken because of Midian” (Judges 6:6 CSB). 

“So the Israelites cried out to the Lord.” 

In his mercy, God answered their prayers by appearing to Gideon, a weak-faithed skeptic. “The Lord is with you, valiant warrior,” the Angel of the Lord said. 

“If the Lord is with us,” Gideon cynically replied, “why has all this happened? And where are all his wonders that our fathers told us about? . . . the Lord has abandoned us and handed us over to Midian” (v. 13). 

Notice how Gideon failed to mention they’d been thumbing their noses at God and serving false idols for years before God finally took corrective action. Hardship had driven Gideon and his kinsman to cry out to the Lord, but their prayers were motivated by desperation, not devotion. 

Me, too

Like Gideon, I’m often guilty of this sin. Yet God is tender-hearted and merciful. He revealed his plan to deliver the Israelites from their oppressors. And he chose Gideon as the point man. 

“Go in the strength you have and deliver Israel from the grasp of Midian. I am sending you!” 

“Whaaaaat? Me?” Gideon cried. “How can I deliver Israel? Look, my family is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the youngest in my father’s family.” 

“Go in the strength you have,” the Lord replied. 

I’ve noticed that God often calls us to tasks too big for us Caring for a sick loved one, parenting a rebellious teenager, staying faithful in a loveless marriage Facing a life-threatening illness, overcoming an addiction, or putting the pieces of your home back together after a tragedy.  

The Christian’s calling to integrity, perseverance, joy, and hope is lofty and difficult. Yet he calls us to go in the strength we have – puny and weak though it is. 

“But I will be with you,” (v. 16) God promises. “You will be victorious.” 

Some mornings, like Gideon, I look at the demands of my life and all God has called me to do. “I’m too weak,” I say. “I’m weary, and I’m frail. I can’t do this.” God acknowledges my words and agrees with me. 

Then, like a parent watching his child struggle to lift a suitcase far too heavy, he places his hand over mine. Infusing my weakness with his strength, we lift the burden and move forward – together. 

Are you facing something too big for you to handle on your own today? Is your strength too small for the mighty task that faces you? Then according to God and Gideon, you are poised for victory. 

“Go in the strength you have,” God says, “and I will be with you.” 

Now it’s your turn. When have you faced something far too great to handle in your own strength and seen God work through you? Leave a comment below ,and share your experience. 

About Refresh Your Hope,
60 Devotions for Trusting God with All Your Heart

How can you hold on to hope in an uncertain world? Especially when experiencing disappointments, setbacks, and discouragement? In Refresh Your Hope, Lori Hatcher invites you to renew your confidence and courage by calling attention to the remarkably good news—you have a hope greater than you could ever imagine.

 

An unshakable hope.

 

In this uplifting, Scripture-driven 60-day devotional, Lori returns to our rock-solid foundation—God’s amazing promises and His faithful character. Each warm, story-based reading will help you grow closer to God as you reflect on His assurances, His generous nature, and His unwavering commitments. Strengthen your prayer life with thought-provoking prompts. Replace anxiety with joy, peace, and trust while encountering Bible truths about the ultimate Source of hope.

Available now on Amazon.com, Christianbook.com, and other fine retailers.

Why not share a copy with a friend who could use a fresh dose of hope?

Have you subscribed to Refresh?

If you’d like to receive a weekly 5-minute devotion to help you rediscover the excitement of God’s Word, CLICK HERE.

The post What to Do When the Task Is Great and You Are Small appeared first on Lori Hatcher.

               
CommentsWhat to Do When the Task Is Great and You Are Small by LoriAHatcherThe Simple Habit that Knit Our Hearts Together by LoriAHatcherOne Question to Enhance Your Quiet Time and Sweeten Your Worship by LoriAHatcherHow to Lead Our Children to a High View of God by LoriAHatcherLearn King David’s Secret to Happiness by LoriAHatcherPlus 5 more...Related StoriesThe Simple Habit that Knit Our Hearts TogetherTry These Powerful Fasting Tips to Boost Your Prayer LifeHow to Lead Our Children to a High View of God 

The Simple Habit that Knit Our Hearts Together

Celebrate with Us!

“Something happened in the tenth year of our marriage that changed the course of our relationship.“

To celebrate the launch of Moments with God for Couples, 100 Devotions for Drawing Closer to God and Each Other, I’d like to share the story behind the book in my husband, David’s words:

For years we’d wanted to have a devotional time together but couldn’t figure out how to make it happen. In the morning, I (David) left early while Lori stayed in bed to capture those last precious moments of sleep before the kids awakened. Dinner, baths, and bedtimes consumed our evenings. Once the girls were asleep, all we wanted to do was relax. We tried reading in bed before we turned out the lights, but one or both of us would inevitably fall asleep—sometimes in mid-sentence.

One day, eyeing the latest couples’ devotional we’d bought for Christmas, Lori suggested a new approach. “What if I get up with you and fix a light breakfast while you shower. If you eat while I read the daily devotion, you could still leave for work on time.” We decided to give it a try.

 Almost three decades later, we still begin most days with a simple breakfast, a five-minutes-or-less devotional reading, and a quick prayer. The practice has taken commitment on both our parts, but it’s been worth it. When we start our day with Bible-centered reading and prayers, God focuses our minds on Him, knits our hearts together, and prepares us for the day ahead.

 We experience the truth of Jesus’ words, “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4).

Lori and I never imagined we’d be writing a couples’ devotional, yet here we are. Not because we have all the answers, but because, as C.S. Lewis once said, we’re “one beggar showing another beggar where to find bread.”

Our marriage is far from perfect, but, by God’s grace, it has stood the test of time. We’ve survived many of the challenges families face today and have grown in our love for God and each other. We’ve made a lot of mistakes, too. We’ll share some of them on the pages to follow, along with the lessons God taught us through them. That way you can skip the pain and go straight to the blessing.

Our prayer is that as you read each devotion, God will draw you one step closer to Himself and to each other.

Love,

David and Lori

Moments with God for Couples

100 Devotions for Growing Closer to God and Each Other

Moment with God for Couples https://amzn.to/3JF0Nnc

Whether you said “I do” four months or forty years ago, the day-to-day disappointments and offenses of any two people doing life together are commonplace. Even when you intend to give each other your best, the joy in your marriage sometimes gets lost amid personality differences , moments of pride, and life circumstances.

In 100 devotions that can be read together or individually, recommit to your spouse with the love and grace that can only come from God. Through relatable stories, relevant Bible passages, and practical applications, you’ll discover new ways to reflect Christ in your marriage every day.

Available at Our Daily Bread, Christianbook.com, and Amazon.

The post The Simple Habit that Knit Our Hearts Together appeared first on Lori Hatcher.

              Related StoriesTry These Powerful Fasting Tips to Boost Your Prayer Life7,000 Delicious Reasons You Can Thank God TodayHow to Lead Our Children to a High View of God 

One Question to Enhance Your Quiet Time and Sweeten Your Worship

The First Question

“Do you have a hymnbook?” pastor/teacher Sinclair Ferguson asked this question recently during one of his podcast episodes.  

Convinced I was going to win points in some mysterious spiritual life exam, I was pleased to answer, “Yes.” Thankfully, he didn’t ask why, because my answer would have been, “Because I use it to choose the hymns our church will sing in the service.” I’m temporarily filling in until God sends our church a “real” worship leader.

Ferguson shared that sixty years ago, churches didn’t supply hymnals. Most Christians owned their own and would carry them to church along with their Bibles. Some Bibles even had hymn pages in the back. Singing hymns was not only part of worship when the church gathered on Sundays, but also part of a Christian’s daily time of Bible reading, prayer, and praise.

The Second Question

Then Ferguson asked a second question: “Do you sing hymns? . . . not only in church, but as you go through life. Or is there music in your soul only when others are present, and when there’s an organ, or perhaps a piano, or maybe a band, or even an orchestra in your church?”

Christians, he said, are commanded by God to praise Him. Praise should bubble out of a thankful heart and express itself through song. If it doesn’t, he said, “then something has gone out of your soul, and you need to get it back. You need to sing.” The remedy for someone who has stopped singing is simple. “Start singing again. Don’t wait for inspiration. Sing. The singing will give you inspiration.”

I love the Lord. I want my life to praise Him, and part of praising Him is praising Him with my voice. And, I will confess, I don’t do it often enough.

Taking Ferguson’s Advice

So I took Ferguson’s advice. I lifted my hymnal off the shelf and placed it with my Bible and journal. The next morning, I began my quiet time by singing a hymn.

I opened the book at random, determined to offer up to the Lord whatever song the page held. Ferguson had made a good point that we tend to gravitate to what is familiar and, often, contemporary. When we shun the hymns, some of which we don’t know, we miss out on the rich theology they contain.

“The great hymn writers were students of Scripture,” Ferguson said. “And some of them were not only unusually gifted poets, but also fine theologians capable of developing an idea and illuminating biblical truth.”

I opened my hymnbook to a song I recognized but didn’t know the tune to, “O Sacred Head Now Wounded.”

Oh boy. Why not, “Amazing Grace?” Or “Victory in Jesus?”

Worshipping

Determined to follow through on my commitment and offer up this hymn to the Lord, I grabbed my phone and clicked over to YouTube. I found a Fernando Ortega version, played it, and sang along with my hymnbook as a guide.

I didn’t get all the notes right, but I sang the beautiful lyrics to the Lord and worshipped.

“O sacred Head, now wounded,

with grief and shame weighed down,

now scornfully surrounded

with thorns, thine only crown!. . .

What thou, my Lord, hast suffered

was all for sinners’ gain.

Mine, mine was the transgression,

but thine the deadly pain.

Lo, here I fall, my Savior!

’Tis I deserve thy place.

Look on me with thy favor,

and grant to me thy grace.”

Ferguson was right. My heart soared. My faith grew. My love for the Savior expanded until my heart ached, and God seemed very near.

Not surprising, since “God inhabits the praise of His people” (Psalm 22:3).

“Oh come, let us sing to the Lord,” the Psalmist declared, “let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!” (Psalm 95:1-2)

God created us to praise Him in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. When we do, our worship is complete.

Something Unexpected

As I’ve continued to sing a hymn at the beginning of my quiet time, something unexpected has happened.

The words and the tune return to me throughout the day. In quiet moments and in busy ones, my heart continues to worship.

This lifts my spirit, fills my mind with truth, and reminds me that God is near.

May I ask you a question?

Do you have a hymnbook?

And another?

Do you sing hymns?

If you don’t, why not give it a try? If you do, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Leave a comment below and join the conversation.

If you’d like to hear the full series of Sinclair Ferguson’s podcasts on the power of hymns, click on the first one, “Christians Love to Sing.”

About Refresh Your Hope,
60 Devotions for Trusting God with All Your Heart

How can you hold on to hope in an uncertain world? Especially when experiencing disappointments, setbacks, and discouragement? In Refresh Your Hope, Lori Hatcher invites you to renew your confidence and courage by calling attention to the remarkably good news—you have a hope greater than you could ever imagine.

 

An unshakable hope.

 

In this uplifting, Scripture-driven 60-day devotional, Lori returns to our rock-solid foundation—God’s amazing promises and His faithful character. Each warm, story-based reading will help you grow closer to God as you reflect on His assurances, His generous nature, and His unwavering commitments. Strengthen your prayer life with thought-provoking prompts. Replace anxiety with joy, peace, and trust while encountering Bible truths about the ultimate Source of hope.

Available now on Amazon.com, Christianbook.com, and other fine retailers.

Why not share a copy with a friend who could use a fresh dose of hope?

Have you subscribed to Refresh?

If you’d like to receive a weekly 5-minute devotion to help you rediscover the excitement of God’s Word, CLICK HERE.

The post One Question to Enhance Your Quiet Time and Sweeten Your Worship appeared first on Lori Hatcher.

              Related StoriesLearn King David’s Secret to HappinessHow to Hear God’s Voice — and that Fiasco on the Mountain10 Unshakeable Reasons to Hope – Today and Every Day 

How to Lead Our Children to a High View of God

We don’t have to read more than a chapter or two of the Bible to meet characters we love to emulate—and characters we don’t. On its hallowed pages, we discover heroes of the faith and enemies of God, shining examples of courage and stunning displays of cowardice. Some walk with their eyes on God. Others walk with their eyes on themselves.

The first few chapters of 1 Samuel contain one such narrative. There, we read about two people who claimed to serve God. One had a high view of God, and the other had a low view. 

Allow me to introduce Hannah and Eli.

Hannah

By ancient world standards, Hannah was a nobody. Her husband, Elkanah, loved her, which was some consolation. But for reasons known only to God, she was barren. In a culture that measured worth by how many heirs a woman produced, Hannah was worthless. As her empty arms ached with longing, sorrow consumed her heart.

Instead of turning her back on the God of her fathers, Hannah took her broken heart to the Lord. She bowed her head and surrendered to Him the son she didn’t have.

Making a vow, she pleaded, “LORD of Armies, if you will take notice of your servant’s affliction, remember and not forget me, and give your servant a son, I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and his hair will never be cut.” (1 Samuel 1:11)

Eli

By the standards of tribal Israel, Eli was a somebody. He had descended from the priestly line of Aaron and served as the high priest in the tabernacle of God. In the time of the judges, no one held more cultural and religious power than he did.

Instead of leading the Israelites, including his sons, to revere and respect God, Eli misspent his opportunity. He embraced a low view of God and elevated his love for his sons above his love for God. 

Words and Actions Reveal Our View of God

Hannah loved God and held him in the highest regard. Eli said he loved God, but he loved others, especially his wicked sons, more. How do we know? By their words and their actions. 

Luke 6:45 tells us a person’s “mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart,” and boy, were their hearts full. Matthew 15:19 tells us what’s in our heart also comes out in our actions. “For from the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual immoralities, thefts, false testimonies, slander.” 

Hannah and Eli’s actions followed their hearts. And they went in two very different directions. 

Hannah Held a High View of God

Although grieving her circumstances and struggling to trust, Hannah recognized where to go for help—to God Almighty. When God, in His wisdom and mercy, answered her prayer for a son, she showed that her faith wasn’t conditional. She kept her vow and dedicated baby Samuel to God’s service. 

As soon as she weaned him, probably between the ages of three and five, she brought him to the tabernacle to live and serve under Eli, the priest. Imagine what it was like for her to surrender her tiny boy to the Lord in faith and trust.

Her expressions of joyful worship highlight her high view of God. Her words reveal what she believed:

1. Surrendering her precious child to God’s

service was a privilege, not a loss or an obligation. 

“I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the LORD. For his whole life he will be given over to the LORD.” (1 Samuel 1:27–28 NIV)

2. Salvation comes from God and brings joy. 

My heart rejoices in the LORD;

my horn is lifted up by the LORD.

My mouth boasts over my enemies,

because I rejoice in your salvation. (1 Samuel 2:1)

3. God is holy and worthy of reverence.

There is no one holy like the LORD.

There is no one besides you!

And there is no rock like our God. (1 Samuel 2:2)

4. God is the source of true wisdom.

Do not boast so proudly,

or let arrogant words come out of your mouth,

for the LORD is a God of knowledge,

and actions are weighed by him. (1 Samuel 2:3)

5. God opens and closes the womb.

Those who are full hire themselves out for food,

but those who are starving hunger no more.

The woman who is childless gives birth to seven,

but the woman with many sons pines away. (1 Samuel 2:5)

6. God, not man, has the rightful power of life and death.

The LORD brings death and gives life;

he sends some down to Sheol, and he raises others up. (1 Samuel 2:6)

7. God created the world.

For the foundations of the earth are the LORD’s;

he has set the world on them. (1 Samuel 2:8)

8. God protects His children.

He guards the steps of his faithful ones,

but the wicked perish in darkness,

for a person does not prevail by his own strength. (1 Samuel 2:9)

Eli Held a Low View of God

The first chapters of 1 Samuel document Eli the priest’s words and actions. Tragically, they reveal his low view of God and what he believed:

1. Worship is something we take lightly, if at all.

Sincere prayer was so unusual under Eli’s leadership that he didn’t even recognize what a praying woman looked like.

Hannah was praying silently, and though her lips were moving, her voice could not be heard. Eli thought she was drunk. (1 Samuel 1:13)

2. The goal of parenting is happy children.

Scripture doesn’t record every decision Eli made as he parented his sons, but we can tell something was amiss. Did he try to be their friend instead of their parent? Or fear he’d lose their love if he corrected them? Did he wink at their childish disobedience, allowing greater and greater sins as they matured?

Eli’s sons were wicked men; they did not respect the LORD. (1 Samuel 2:12).

3. Giving to God comes second, only after

we’ve met our needs and satisfied our wants.

Instead of honoring God with the best portions of the offering, Eli allowed his sons to take the best for themselves. To satisfy their lusts.They gave God the leftovers—if there were any.

So the servants’ sin was very severe in the presence of the LORD, because the men treated the LORD’s offering with contempt. (1 Samuel 2:17).

4. God doesn’t care how we behave as long as we go to church.

In Old Testament vernacular, Eli’s boys cut their teeth on the tabernacle poles. Eli made sure they were “in worship” every day. But he failed to make sure they didn’t seduce the women or fleece the flock. At least his boys were serving in the temple. Bonus points if they wore a clean robe. Eli’s low view of God led him to allow his sons to serve in the tabernacle despite their gross immorality.

Now Eli was very old. He heard about everything his sons were doing to all Israel and how they were sleeping with the women who served at the entrance to the tent of meeting. (1 Samuel 2:22)

5. Maintain peace at all costs, even

if we risk offending God and others.

Eli’s low view of God led him to ignore his sons’ wicked behavior until it got so bad the congregation complained. When the evidence of their heinous sin became impossible to hide, Eli spoke up, but his correction came too late. His misplaced values led him to neglect God’s honor and the ultimate well-being of his sons. 

He said to them, “Why are you doing these things? I have heard about your evil actions from all these people.” (1 Samuel 2:23)

High View or Low, We Reap What We Sow

We Christian parents have no guarantee that if we raise our children in church, they’ll love and serve God forever. Regardless, He calls us to steward the children He gives us and nurture them in the faith. We must love God first and desire to please Him more than we love our children and desire to please them. But fear not. As we honor God, He will lead us to care well for our children. 

Do we, like Hannah, have a high view of God? 

Do we trust Him enough to surrender our children to God, rejoice in our salvation, and treat God as holy and worthy of reverence? Do we see God as the source of all wisdom, trust Him to open and close our wombs, and acknowledge His authority over life and in death? Do we believe He created the world and will care for His children?

Hannah trusted God to care for her boy Samuel, and her trust wasn’t misplaced. In an environment of gross immorality and utter disregard for God, Samuel’s heart remained pure. God cared for, protected, and used him all the days of his life.

Do We Have a High or Low View of God?

Do our words and actions, like Hannah’s, support these beliefs?

Or do we, like Eli, hold a low view of God?

Do we take worship lightly and seek to make our children happy instead of holy? Do we give to God and His work only after we’ve satisfied all our needs and wants? Do we act in ways that dishonor God while hiding behind our church attendance? Do we ignore our children’s sinful behavior in order to maintain peace? 

God blessed Hannah in ways that reverberate into eternity. 

“‘Then I will raise up a faithful priest for myself. He will do whatever is in my heart and mind. I will establish a lasting dynasty for him, and he will walk before my anointed one for all time.’” (1 Samuel 2:35)

God judged Eli for eternity too. He revoked His anointing on his family line and decreed that none would live into old age. 

“‘Look, the days are coming when I will cut off your strength and the strength of your forefather’s family, so that none in your family will reach old age.’” (1 Samuel 2:31)

A high view of God leads us to speak and act as though what He says is true. A low view leads us to speak and act as though what we say is true.

Which will we choose? 

May we say with Hannah, 

There is no one holy like the LORD.

There is no one besides you!

And there is no rock like our God. (1 Samuel 2:2)

Author’s note: For more information on how to know if you have a high or low view of God, check out Jean Wilund’s insightful article, “ Is Your View of God as High as You Think? ”

This article appeared on ReviveOurHearts.com and is shared with permission.

About Refresh Your Hope,
60 Devotions for Trusting God with All Your Heart

How can you hold on to hope in an uncertain world? Especially when experiencing disappointments, setbacks, and discouragement? In Refresh Your Hope, Lori Hatcher invites you to renew your confidence and courage by calling attention to the remarkably good news—you have a hope greater than you could ever imagine.

 

An unshakable hope.

 

In this uplifting, Scripture-driven 60-day devotional, Lori returns to our rock-solid foundation—God’s amazing promises and His faithful character. Each warm, story-based reading will help you grow closer to God as you reflect on His assurances, His generous nature, and His unwavering commitments. Strengthen your prayer life with thought-provoking prompts. Replace anxiety with joy, peace, and trust while encountering Bible truths about the ultimate Source of hope.

Available now on Amazon.com, Christianbook.com, and other fine retailers.

Why not share a copy with a friend who could use a fresh dose of hope?

Have you subscribed to Refresh?

If you’d like to receive a weekly 5-minute devotion to help you rediscover the excitement of God’s Word, CLICK HERE.

The post How to Lead Our Children to a High View of God appeared first on Lori Hatcher.

              Related Stories10 Unshakeable Reasons to Hope – Today and Every DayTry These Powerful Fasting Tips to Boost Your Prayer Life7,000 Delicious Reasons You Can Thank God Today 

Learn King David’s Secret to Happiness

If Time magazine polled its readers, looking for the 950 B.C. Man of the Year, I’m pretty sure King David would have been a shoe in. 

A military man, he was handsome, clever, and brave. He had political smarts and charisma. He played an instrument well enough to be invited to perform before heads of state. The ladies swooned over him, and the men respected him. 

And did I mention he could dance? Yep, this guy had it all. Slap his handsome face on the cover and watch the papyrus rolls fly off the newsstands.

What I like most about King David, however, doesn’t have anything to do with what’s listed on his LinkedIn profile. I admire his faith. Now you’d think with a nickname like “man after God’s own heart,” (bestowed upon him by God, no less), he’d be depressingly perfect. Instead, he’s surprisingly ordinary.

He prays mighty prayers. Then he grumbles and complains. He lists a multitude of God’s promises. Then he wavers in doubt. He chronicles God’s faithfulness, then he acts as though God has never done anything for him.

David’s story is my story. (Minus the impressive resume.)

Perhaps it’s your story, too.

If so, we can learn from David’s faith life and apply the lessons to our own.

If you’ve spent much time in David’s songbook, the biblical book of Psalms, you’ve seen the key to David’s perseverance and faith—even when he lifts his voice in lament, he ends up praising God. This central theme runs through most of David’s psalms: Praise and remember. Praise and remember. Sometimes he switches it up. Thank and remember. Thank and remember.

Consider the psalm he composed when he brought the ark into Jerusalem:

“Oh, give thanks to the Lord! . . .

Remember his marvelous words which he has done. . .

Remember his covenant forever; the word which he commanded, for a thousand generations.

Sing to the Lord, all the earth.

Declare his glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples.

Give to the Lord the glory due His name.

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.”

Like David sometimes did, I get into the greatest spiritual trouble when I focus on my circumstances instead of focusing on God. But when I turn my eyes toward God, the cloud lifts. I remember what’s true—that God is in control, and I can trust him.

If you’re struggling to make sense of the circumstances in your life, put on the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. Take a page from David’s (song) book. Scratch out his name on Psalm 103 and insert yours. Offer it up to God, out loud or in your heart, as a statement of faith, proving that you’re choosing to walk by faith, not by sight today.

King David may qualify for Time magazine’s 950 B.C. Man of the Year, but now that we’ve gotten a glimpse of his secret to success, we can enjoy the same close walk with the Lord he did.

Click here to pull up Psalm 103 and insert your name. Then pray it aloud to God.

Bless the Lord, O my soul;

Bless the Lord, O my soul;

And all that is within me, bless His holy name!

Now it’s your turn. When you struggle against a spirit of heaviness, what do you do? Leave a comment below and join the conversation.

About Refresh Your Hope,
60 Devotions for Trusting God with All Your Heart

How can you hold on to hope in an uncertain world? Especially when experiencing disappointments, setbacks, and discouragement? In Refresh Your Hope, Lori Hatcher invites you to renew your confidence and courage by calling attention to the remarkably good news—you have a hope greater than you could ever imagine.

 

An unshakable hope.

 

In this uplifting, Scripture-driven 60-day devotional, Lori returns to our rock-solid foundation—God’s amazing promises and His faithful character. Each warm, story-based reading will help you grow closer to God as you reflect on His assurances, His generous nature, and His unwavering commitments. Strengthen your prayer life with thought-provoking prompts. Replace anxiety with joy, peace, and trust while encountering Bible truths about the ultimate Source of hope.

Available now on Amazon.com, Christianbook.com, and other fine retailers.

Why not share a copy with a friend who could use a fresh dose of hope?

Have you subscribed to Refresh?

If you’d like to receive a weekly 5-minute devotion to help you rediscover the excitement of God’s Word, CLICK HERE.

The post Learn King David’s Secret to Happiness appeared first on Lori Hatcher.

              Related StoriesHow to Hear God’s Voice — and that Fiasco on the Mountain10 Unshakeable Reasons to Hope – Today and Every DayTry These Powerful Fasting Tips to Boost Your Prayer Life