That Grass On the Other Side

Tuesday, January 31, 2023

The wicked draw their swords and string their bows to kill the poor and the oppressed, to slaughter those who do right.  But their swords will stab their own hearts, and their bows will be broken.  It is better to be godly and have little than to be evil and rich.  For the strength of the wicked will be shattered, but the Lord takes care of the godly.  Psalm 37:14-17

The old adage about greener grass on the other side of the fence could not be more reliable.  For years I’ve driven past a goat farm near our home.  I cannot begin to estimate how often I’ve seen both old and young of the flock with necks straining through the fence to get that luscious green grass on the other side.

It works that way for human goats too!  Those who are poor dream about the green grasses in the land of the rich.  (It’s the reason lottery tickets sell).  Flip that coin and you find the rich wondering what it would be like to live more simply, without the stress of having to protect their wealth from potential thieves.  Both sides of that fence imagine a carefree life of ease on the fence’s other side.  But more often you find the rich unable to resist the temptation to get richer…on the sore backs of those in poverty.  And so it has gone since the Garden of Eden.

Jesus warned about the trap of letting money, or the desire for that greener grass lifestyle, take the place of godliness…which is a life-building others up, instead of storing-up for sefishness sake[1].  Paul picked up on that theme, and instructed his young protégé, Timothy, to teach contentment[2]

It does not surprise me that God came to us in a lowly manger and was content, whether in the company of the rich movers and shakers, or those who were impoverished, destitute of the world’s goods, and no prospect for getting more.  He knew the riches of glory in Heaven with Yahweh; He knew, and had the power of the universe by his word in creation…but he laid it all aside, to be poor for us.

Jesus gave John a warning message for those who thought they had it made, as well as for those who think having what the rich had, would put them in that elite group of carefree livers of the good life:

You say, ‘I am rich.  I have everything I want.  I don’t need a thing!’  And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.  So I advise you to buy gold from me—gold that has been purified by fire.  Then you will be rich.  Also buy white garments from me so you will not be shamed by your nakedness, and ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see.  I correct and discipline everyone I love.  So be diligent and turn from your indifference.  Revelation 3:17-19

For You Today  

Whether you are rich as the upper class comes, or living nervously on Food Stamps and thrift store cast-offs, that grass on the other side of the fence only looks greener.  What God gave you…a soul with His image stamped on it…is your true wealth and worth.  And it is without price…unless you sell it to this world’s highest bidder.

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road; have a blessed day!

Go to VIDEO (read by author)

There are about 2,000 devotional posts and 400 sermons in the Rocky Road Devotions library.  To dig deeper on today’s topic, explore some of these: 

Good and Evil - the War  and  The Sword of Justice 

This is an updated version of “So Much Anger” published on Rocky Road Devotions January 16, 2014

Images:  Title Pixabay.com   Images without citation are either personal property of the author, or in public domain.

Unless noted, Scripture quoted from The New Living Translation^©  

---

[1] Read it:  Matthew 6:19-34

[2] Read it:  1 Timothy 6

Legacy of Leprosy

[1]

Tuesday, July 9, 2019

“Go in peace,” Elisha said. So Naaman started home again.  But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha, the man of God, said to himself, “My master should not have let this Aramean get away without accepting any of his gifts.  As surely as the Lord lives, I will chase after him and get something from him.”  So Gehazi set off after Naaman.  When Naaman saw Gehazi running after him, he climbed down from his chariot and went to meet him.  “Is everything all right?” Naaman asked.  “Yes,” Gehazi said, “but my master has sent me to tell you that two young prophets from the hill country of Ephraim have just arrived.  He would like 75 pounds of silver and two sets of clothing to give to them.”  “By all means, take twice as much silver,” Naaman insisted.  He gave him two sets of clothing, tied up the money in two bags, and sent two of his servants to carry the gifts for Gehazi.  But when they arrived at the citadel, Gehazi took the gifts from the servants and sent the men back.  Then he went and hid the gifts inside the house.  When he went in to his master, Elisha asked him, “Where have you been, Gehazi?”  “I haven’t been anywhere,” he replied.  But Elisha asked him, “Don’t you realize that I was there in spirit when Naaman stepped down from his chariot to meet you?  Is this the time to receive money and clothing, olive groves and vineyards, sheep and cattle, and male and female servants?  Because you have done this, you and your descendants will suffer from Naaman’s leprosy forever.”  When Gehazi left the room, he was covered with leprosy; his skin was white as snow.  2 Kings 5:19-27

Naaman, commander of the most powerful army in the world awoke one day to discover he had leprosy.  He would’ve traded all his power and wealth for a good doctor’s report.  When he went to the prophet he got just that…jaundiced, sickly skin, covered in sores and scabs, bordering on rotting, was now smooth and clear.

Naaman was overjoyed and wanted to shower the prophet with gifts of gold, silver, and a lavish wardrobe.  Elisha refused, but Gehazi, his servant couldn’t resist.  He went behind the prophet’s back, running after Naaman, lying straight-faced to him, and managing to snag 150 pounds of silver for himself (worth about $36,000 in today’s money[2]).  Gehazi hid the money, but the prophet knew all about it and the tables turned very quickly. 

The upshot of the story is incredible.  Naaman, a heathen, hardened military political power broker who had every advantage except health was willing to trade it all for relief from leprosy.  He got the relief and became a worshipper of the Lord God.  Gehazi, servant of Elisha, who had seen the prophet’s connection with God as Elisha performed miracles, and who had witnessed the might of JHWH defeating the foes of Israel without so much as a skirmish, traded away his own health, and that of his children and grandchildren, not to mention the possibility of passing along a good name, for some stolen bags of silver, just enough to make a good down payment on a funeral.

The contrast of the two men is striking.  Naaman was sickly and willing to give it all away for the blessing of God.  Gehazi lived in the blessing of God and wanted what Naaman had.  He got way more than he bargained for.

For You Today

Scripture says that contentment with godliness is itself great wealth.[3]  Like Gehazi we always have a choice, we can be content and let our thoughts and lives dwell with God and His ways, or we can trade away our contentment for a little silver or gold…and leave a leprous legacy; should be a no-brainer for believers!

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road; have a blessed day.

Go to VIDEO

---

[1] Title Image:  Pixabay.com        Unless otherwise noted, Scripture used from The New Living Translation©

[2] According to Silver Market price

[3] 1 Timothy 6:6

Enough

[1]

Friday, May 10, 2019

The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need.  He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams.  He renews my strength.     He  guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.  Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me.  Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.  You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies.  You honor me by anointing my head with oil.  My cup overflows with blessings.  Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.  Psalm 23:1-6

I think children probably understand this Psalm better than adults.  Somehow, perhaps by making poor choices, or just facing the dark valleys through life, we become desensitized to what we really need.  We long for material things, successful careers, and for people to take note of our accomplishments.  Even if we get those things, they are fleeting and, in the eternal view, inconsequential!   A survey of pre-teens was conducted years ago about what they wanted most from their parents.  Among the top ten there was such as taking a family walk and flying a kite together.  There was not a single item that cost any money!  However, every bit of it involved spending time together!

King David had all those earthly things, wealth beyond measure, success in whatever he did, and the praise of the entire world.  But this Psalm reveals his heart; it tells us what was really important to this man after God’s own heart[i]. 

Let’s investigate that heart and see what he knew was important.

·      Peace

A sense of security, knowing your life really matters to someone else topped David’s list.  The idea of still waters and green pastures speak volumes from a shepherd.

·      Courage 

Walking through life’s dark valley, yet, continuing to walk without debilitating fear is the very essence of courage. 

·      Honor

In this Psalm God does the leading, because it gives Him joy to see his sheep cared-for.  That brings honor to God’s name.  At the Psalm’s end is God anointing David’s head with oil, a symbol of honor.  The God-life is one of mutual respect and honor.

·      Mercy  

…means nothing to someone who hasn’t sinned.  But, we all mess-up, and make deliberate, selfish choices.  We all tend to wander from God like senseless sheep.  The merciful hand of God brings us back to the fold.

·      Relationship

Dwelling in God’s place forever is an expression of relationship that finds complete fulfillment in all God is and does.  Forever hardly requires comment…and is not quite comprehendible.  How can you measure eternity?

Howard Hughes was among the pioneers of the aircraft industry.  Hughes Aircraft made him one of the richest, and most influential people in the world.  As a diagnosed Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder sufferer, he became a recluse, living in one hotel after another, never seen in public. 

King David and those like Howard Hughes are a study in polar opposites.  David was a man after God’s own heart; Hughes was one running from God’s heart.  What Hughes got was what he courted; what David got was enough for eternity.

For You Today

What kind of life is enough for you?  If King David’s priorities are what you’re seeking, hear what God advises:

If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.  Jeremiah 29:13

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road; have a blessed day.

Go to VIDEO 

---

[1] Title Image:   Pixabay.com   Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are from The New Living Translation©

---

[i] Acts 13:22

Content!

[i]

Wednesday, February 13, 2019

And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing.  Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable.  Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.  Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing.  Then the God of peace will be with you.  How I praise the Lord that you are concerned about me again.  I know you have always been concerned for me, but you didn’t have the chance to help me.  Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have.  I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything.  I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little.  For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.  Even so, you have done well to share with me in my present difficulty.  Philippians 4:8-14(NLT)

A Scottish minister was an amazement to everyone who knew him.  He was just so positive all the time.  The parson’s prayers each Sunday were always new explorations of looking at things from the bright side.  If an optimist is one whose glass is always half-full, this guy’s cup was a gusher.  He made Norman Vincent Peale sound like Roy Clark’s woe, despair, and agony on me. 

One Sunday morning the weather was abominable.  There were four funerals that week, and it had rained through every one of them.  It was unseasonably cold, and this early Lord’s Day the rain was mixed with sleet.  The path from the parsonage to the church was muddy and slippery, and the aging preacher had slipped and fallen – face-down, of course.  By the time he made it to the church it was late, and the worship service was already in progress.  The muddy mess slogged-into the sanctuary and went straight to the pulpit.  One parishioner poked another in the side and whispered, let’s see him turn THIS into a smile!  The parson began his prayer, O, Lord, we thank thee it is not ALWAYS like this.

Paul wrote that he’d learned the secret to contentment, and that’s not a small thing.  I have known people (and have personally been) without this key component to a fulfilled life.  I believe the apostle was pointing backwards to his previous statement, that fixing your mind on the plus-side (that which is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, etc.) is what opens your heart to God.  When your heart is opened to God, Who IS peace, His Holy Spirit comes alongside, lives with (and within) you, and God’s kind of peace is more than just contentment, it floods your heart and soul with joy.

That kind of heart-joy isn’t dependent on circumstances, because this world and all its empty ways didn’t give it…and therefore it cannot take it away, change or diminish it.  It came from God, and it depends on God – not the state of your health, financial portfolio, friends, or whether your dog likes you.  This is what Paul called the peace that passes understanding.  It’s past understanding, or knowing, or acquiring without a total dependence on God.

Paul said it was Christ Who strengthened him with this peaceful contentment.  And the testimony of believers down through the centuries all leans in favor of this; from martyrs to kings, those who have completely trusted Christ in all things, leaving the outcome to their Heavenly Father, find a contentment that mystifies those who don’t.  

For You Today

If your contentment tank is running a little empty, let me suggest a fill-up.  You do that by emptying-out; lay it all on the altar before God – your finances, relationships, health, worries, hopes, and wonders.  After all, wouldn’t you trade every bit of all that for the contented assurance of His care?

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road; have a blessed day.

Go to VIDEO

---

[i] Title Image:  via Pixabay.com

What About Him?

[1]

Thursday, December 27, 2018

A third time he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”  Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time.  He said, “Lord, you know everything.  You know that I love you.”  Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep.  “I tell you the truth, when you were young, you were able to do as you liked; you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go.  But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will dress you and take you where you don’t want to go.”  Jesus said this to let him know by what kind of death he would glorify God.  Then Jesus told him, “Follow me.”  Peter turned around and saw behind them the disciple Jesus loved—the one who had leaned over to Jesus during supper and asked, “Lord, who will betray you?”  Peter asked Jesus, “What about him, Lord?”  Jesus replied, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?  As for you, follow me.”  John 21:17-22(NLT)

If you’re following Jesus as His disciple, there are a lot of questions that are valid and welcome.  You can ask:

·      Where do you want me to go?

·      What do you want me to do?

·      When, and even Why are on the table

These are all questions that help give us direction and understanding to the scope and urgency of Christ’s mission.  The one question you want to avoid is something that smacks of idle curiosity about someone else’s service. 

Perhaps Peter just couldn’t help it; his natural curiosity wanted to probe deeper and know what was in store for John.  It doesn’t mean Peter wasn’t sold on Jesus being the Messiah, Son of God; that much isn’t in question.  It’s just that, who can resist the impulse to question if someone else is getting a better deal than you?  Peter wanted to probe the possibilities while the conversation was still on the table.  Jesus told him to mind his own business and do what Jesus had set out for him…not John.

It’s like that with humans.  Even when we have a clear view of what God wants us to do, we can’t help questioning if there’s something better, easier, higher-paying, more gratifying, upper-level kind of thing for us; we want what we want!

Peter became the chief preacher among the disciples, and I can tell you from experience a preacher that spends his days dreaming of having a bigger church, with a much more prominent pulpit than he or she currently serves is one of Satan’s most successful tools for tearing churches apart.  When someone who’s supposed to be a shepherd caring for sheep, takes his eye off the ball of being a shepherd and wants to climb mountains of fame and prestige – that church is in for a nosedive, and the shepherd is going to wind up in the woodshed.  Jesus said, mind the business I gave you; don’t worry about what I want your neighbor to do!

For You Today

So, now that I’ve bared the soul-trouble of status-seeking preachers (and probably alienated any of my fellow pastors who read this), how’s it going in the pride and social-climbing department for you?

We’re still a few days away from the deadline of writing those resolutions for the new year.  You could add a little holy contentment to your list.

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road; have a blessed day.                                                                                                                     

Go to VIDEO

---

[1] Title Image:  Pixabay.com

Suddenly

[1]

Monday, December 24, 2018

And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home.  He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee.  He took with him Mary, to whom he was engaged, who was now expecting a child.  And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born.  She gave birth to her firstborn son.  She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.  That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep.  

Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them.  They were terrified, but the angel reassured them.  “Don’t be afraid!” he said.  “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people.  The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!  And you will recognize him by this sign:  You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”  Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”  Luke 2:4-14(NLT)

Surprises come suddenly.  (Now there’s a news flash!)

I’ve never actually liked the idea of surprises.  But surprises don’t ask if they can happen; they just happen.  That is why they’re called surprises – they surprise you!  They’re autonomous – they decide when, where, how much, and with what purpose they happen.  All you have is your reaction to the surprise.

This is why surprises aren’t my favorite thing; I’d like to be able to pick and choose which things life has permission to throw at me.  That surprise 16^th birthday party was ok, but nearly severing my big toe back in 1987 was something I would have crossed-off the dance card if I’d known about how weak that aquarium glass was if you put your foot against it to scoot it across the carport.  Surprises sometimes include blood!

The shepherds understood surprises; you don’t care for flocks of sheep, notoriously dumb animals that wander around, falling into all kinds of troubling predicaments, without being familiar with surprises.  It’s just that the shepherds weren’t prepared for an angel and a choir the size of the New Year’s Eve Times Square crowd floating in the night air above.  Surprises can sometimes be terrifying.

But now, later that night, look at the faces of those shepherds, and tell me what happens when a surprise from heaven settles-in to do its work in your life:

Notice that all six faces in the picture (7 if you count the cow) are illuminated.  The artist wanted us to know something about these faces and the worth of this surprise.

We know Mary’s face, a young teen with her firstborn; how do you put into words the joy and overwhelming sense of fearful wonder that you won’t be good enough for all this? 

At Mary’s side, with his hands folded on the cow’s head, we see contented joy.  This shepherd is just taking-in the human moment…and why not?  It’s not often a common shepherd gets to participate in a world-class event…and in a front-row seat!

The Man in the lower left with hands clasped in a prayerful pose shows wonder, his face is an I-don’t-know-what-to-make-of-this prayerful plea of anxiety over what this will mean; will it all be alright?

The boy next to Mary is pure, excited joy.  “Do you believe this; man, this is great” is the expression of youthful naiveté, who cannot possibly see anything but the upside.  This is the Hallmark moment under the Christmas tree; all gift, no grief.

And lastly (besides the cow who may be looking more at the hay that was supposed to be her supper), at the far (upper) left is a man’s face that speaks the shadow of the cross to me.  His right hand is near his heart, and the left raised in something of a benedictory pose.  At first glance I saw just a bland, unfeeling look on that face.  But on deeper examination I see the pathos of future surprises for this child that transcends such a serene moment of a new baby’s untouched life.  This prayerful shepherd understands life will not be all picnics and walks in the park. 

There are indeed hard times ahead for the Christ child.  His willingness to accept all of it, so I can experience His joy, is present enough for me.

For You Today

My deepest prayer for you today is that whatever you’re preparing for, and whomever you will celebrate this Christmas eve, and the season with, that all these emotions and assurances will be yours, like the suddenly surprises the angels brought so long ago to the shepherds.  Contented joy, mixed with a little anxious anticipation, regained naiveté, and the wisdom of preparing for the cross.  Blessed Christmas…. good tidings!

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road; have a blessed day.

Go to VIDEO

---

[1] Title Image:  Pixabay.com