Daily devotion

How Was Your Day?

/ pastorpete51 / Leave a comment

“Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” John 6:9 NIV

Sometimes I try to imagine about that day for the young boy. Now I’ve always thought this young fellow was very likely the disciple Mark, so let’s peek in on how his day went. Maybe that morning, he went to his parents asking, “Can I go up to the hillside to listen to Jesus? I’m all caught up with my chores.”

His Dad, who was busy getting ready to head out to work, said, ” It’s all right by me. Go ask your mother.”

Mom, overhearing the conversation sighs, puts her hands on her hips and smiles. “Okay, but no foolishness. Stay with the boys next door, and, don’t forget to take something for lunch. These 5 little loaves and two salted fish should give you enough to share with your friends.”

Now we all know how things happened, but his parents, did not. So, late that evening as Mark walked in the door, the first question they asked was, “So how did your day go? Who did you share your lunch with?”

With the biggest smile of  his life Mark answers with a shout, ” You’re not going to believe it! I could write a book about it!”

Ancient Landmarks – Day Two

/ pastorpete51 / 1 Comment

Do not move an ancient landmark or enter the fields of the fatherless; for their Redeemer is strong, He will plead their cause against you. Proverbs 23:10-11 ESV

Yesterday we read in Proverbs chapter twenty-two, that, it is wrong to move the landmarks that God has chosen for our lives. In chapter twenty-three, Solomon returns to landmarks, warning us to never move a neighbor’s landmark in order to steal the inheritance that God has chosen for them.

Now, we might say, “Boy I would never do that!” thinking that God is only talking about possessions or property. But when we add things like, “Who impressed mom and dad the most with their school project, who was promoted at work, or why did brother Bob get elected as deacon instead of me?” the truth hits closer to home. Wishing for the most love and attention in our family, the fastest advancement at work, or the power positions in church, are red flags warning us to check our motives. Maybe mom and dad, just assumed you knew they loved you equally, the promotion you missed would have robbed you of time needed with your children, or that brother Bob was the perfect guy to deal with finding the best contractor to repair the church roof. Manipulating people, pretending interest, flattery, or even outright lies, can crop up like weeds in the garden of our hearts if we aren’t careful.

Solomon also points out that there are consequences of moving the landmarks of others for our own advantage, because there is someone watching over us both. Our watcher is strong, and whether he will be our opponent or our Redeemer depends on our choices. Yes, sometimes life is hard, the future looks bleak and we feel alone, but stealing the inheritance that belongs to others is never the answer, because God’s plan is perfect. The ancient walls that He chose to surround our inheritances, do not separate, or restrict us, instead they tell us that we are neighbors. And if God made us neighbors, then remember what He said about neighbors:

“And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself!” Matthew 22:39 ESV

Ancient Landmarks – Part One

/ pastorpete51 / 2 Comments 
Do not move the ancient landmark that your father have set. Proverbs 22:28 ESV
Do not move an ancient landmark or enter the fields of the fatherless. 
Proverbs 23:10 ESV

In my recent daily Bible reading, I became intrigued with how Solomon talks of ancient landmarks in subsequent chapters. Now the phrase “ancient landmark” used here isn’t the kind of landmark we think of, such as Mount Rushmore or the Statue of Liberty. These landmarks were the ancient boundary lines spoken of in the book of Deuteronomy, which designated the inheritance of each tribe, family and individual. These boundaries were not self-imposed ones decided on by people. Instead, these were the hills and valleys, streams and wilderness areas chosen by God and given to them. Think of the stone walls, which Robert Frost spoke of in his poem, “Mending Wall” where he tells us.

“Good fences make good neighbors.”

Today, we often fear barriers of any kind, considering them to be restrictions, preventing us from experiencing or having something better. These ancient fences which God has placed between us, are given not to divide us, but rather to assign us each a responsibility. And in these two verses in Proverbs Solomon warns us of two opposite errors. Today we are focusing on the first: not trading away our own ancient landmark. We are not to give away, what God has chosen for us, though it may seem right and good and profitable in the moment, as in did for the prodigal, when he headed for a far-off city. The life God had chosen for us is best and no amount of gain, excitement or prestige can better His eternal plan. God has set boundary lines to protect, not restrict us, and our contentment comes when we accept those limits, plant our own gardens, and dig our own wells. If we will just trust the limits God has set, the time will come for an abundant harvest, when God’s blessings overflow so much, that we will have more than enough for our family and then an abundance to share with others!