Our theme for this month: “Taking care of your soul.”

Our Bible verse for today: “What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?” Matthew 16:26 (NIV)

Our thought for today: “The nature of the soul”

Before we go much further in our devotional consideration of taking care of the soul, I want us to revisit the question of what the soul is. As I pointed out in the first devotional on this subject, the Bible does not provide us with a clear explanation of the difference between soul and spirit. In some cases it seems to use the term interchangeably and yet, both the Old and New Testaments also indicate some distinct differences between the two.

In that devotional I also explained that the soul is the essence of life which God breathes into the human form. It is that which animates our mortal body and which gives us a form of life that is distinctly different from all other forms of life. I also explained that the most commonly held view, as described in the Dictionary of Evangelical Theology, is that the soul and spirit actually comprise a single spiritual entity. In its most basic form it is the breath of life which brings a mortal body to life to begin with. But then in the case of those who have new life from the Holy Spirit, the soul becomes multi-faceted, comprised of the lower form of soul which is simply the breath of life that every human being has in them, and the higher form of soul which only Christians have, and it is this which enables us to have a relationship with God.

However there is another view that has also been widely held in historical Christianity and which we should consider here as well. It is similar to the view described above and yet there is a significant difference. It was described well by the great Scottish pastor, theologian, and devotional writer Oswald Chambers (best known for his devotional book “My Utmost for His Highest”). Chambers wrote:

“In the Bible soul is always referred to in connection with the body. The soul is the holder of the body and spirit together, and when the body disappears, the soul disappears, but the essential personality of the man remains. Soul is the expression of spirit in the body; soul has no existence apart from spirit and body. Immediately body goes, the spirit returns to God who gave it, and soul is not … Spirit is the immortal, indestructible part of a man, and it goes back to God who gave it.”

So in the view explained by Chambers and held by many others, the human being is a triune being consisting of body, soul, and spirit. The body is mortal, the spirit is immortal, and the soul connects the two. When the body dies the spirit returns to God and the soul ceases to exist because it is no longer needed.

Whether we adhere to the more traditional evangelical view of the soul/spirit as a single but multi-faceted spiritual entity, or the view promoted by Chambers and others that body, soul, and spirit are three distinct entities, the truth remains that there is a spiritual essence within us that is the true “us” and it is the part of us that relates to and interacts with God. That spiritual essence has to be nurtured and cared for in order to be healthy. We will now spend the rest of this month discussing how to ensure that it is.

God Bless,

Our theme for this month: “Taking care of your soul.”

Our Bible verse for today: “My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.” Psalm 84:2 (NIV)

Our thought for today: “Your soul yearns for intimacy with God.”

The fact that each human being has a soul is virtually indisputable. Even atheists have to acknowledge that there is something unique within a human being which makes our life form distinctly different from other forms of life. That thing is the soul. It is the breath of life that God breathed into us.

And, the fact that the soul yearns for God is also indisputable. Deep within each person there is an innate sense that there is something more than just this mortal life – there is a spiritual dimension, there is a God, and there is an afterlife – intuitively we know this to be true. That’s why every civilization that has ever existed has always had notions of an afterlife and of spirits and of gods, and it is why every civilization has always had forms of worship and religious rituals.

The great fourth century Christian theologian Saint Augustine famously wrote about this: “You have created us for yourself, oh God, and our hearts are restless, searching, until we find our rest in thee.” The 16th century French philosopher Blaise Pascal expressed it like this: “There is a God-shaped vacuum within the heart of man that can only be filled by God.” 

The problem for many of us modern Christians is that we don’t follow the yearning of our soul. While the soul is reaching out for God, longing for more time with Him, desperate for deeper fellowship and richer and more meaningful interaction with him, our mortal bodies are driving us to frenzies of activity and distraction. The result is a soul which is hungry and thirsty, unfulfilled and dissatisfied.

The answer is time – time spent with God; sacred time that belongs to God and to Him alone; time that is protected and which nothing else is allowed to intrude upon. Your soul needs this. We will explore this idea in much greater depth in future devotionals but for now, for a deeper teaching on this subject, please read my article “”Room for the Singing of Angels”. You can download a free copy of it on my website at http://www.JimMersereauBooks.com.

God Bless,

Our theme for this month: “Taking care of your soul”

Our Bible verse for today: “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.” Psalm 23:1-3 (NIV)

Our thought for today: “The soul needs to be cared for.”

Theologically there has always been debate about the nature of the soul and whether or not the soul and spirit are the same thing or different. The Bible itself speaks of both soul and spirit, and in some cases it seems to use the terms interchangeably (as we commonly do too), but in both the Old and New Testaments the Bible also draws some distinctions between soul and spirit.

In its simplest form “soul” is understood as “the breath of life”. It is what God breathed into the man in Genesis 2:7 which brought the mortal body of flesh and bones to life. It is the thing that animates the mortal body and which distinguishes its life from that of a flower or a tree. In this sense animals have souls too (the Bible bears this out) and once the soul departs the body, that body no longer lives. So in this sense the soul is the very essence of life, the thing that brings the body to life and it is so deeply united with the body that a person is thought of as a body-soul. 

However, how the spirit relates to the soul is a tricky thing and the Bible doesn’t really give us a clear explanation about it. It appears that with the coming of the Holy Spirit into an individual’s life the “soul” is regenerated with new life from above, and essentially becomes a soul of a higher order – or a soul with an added dimension to it. The Dictionary of Evangelical Theology is helpful:

“It (soul) is often used interchangeably with spirit, although distinctions that begin to appear in the Old Testament are carried forward in the New Testament… soul in the NT normally means an individual spiritual entity with a material body, so that a person is thought of as a body-soul … spirit is the special gift of God which places one in relationship to him.”

So according to that explanation, everyone has a body and a soul, but when someone enters into a right relationship with God (through Jesus) they then have a body and soul/spirit – the soul being the lower element of this entity which infuses the mortal body with life, and the spirit being the higher element which enables that mortal man or woman to have a relationship with God. So in the unbeliever the soul is a single-faceted thing which simply infuses a mortal body with the breath of life. But in a believer the soul becomes a multi-faceted spiritual entity which both infuses the mortal body with the breath of life, and then enables that individual, by means of the Spirit, to have a relationship with God.

Throughout the month of June we are going to consider the well-being of our soul/spirit and how it is that we go about keeping it healthy. If our soul is the very breath of life that infuses and animates us, and if the spirit is the higher form of the soul and is that which enables us to relate to God, then we need to ensure it is healthy. We will spend this month discussing exactly how to make sure that it is.

God Bless,

Our theme for this month: “Wisdom”

Our theme for next month: “Taking care of your soul.”

Our Bible verse for today: “O God, You are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for You; my whole body longs for You in this dry and weary land where there is no water.” Psalm 63:1 (HCSB)

Our thought for today: “Biblical wisdom leads us to truly know God.”

We began this month of devotional thoughts on the subject of Biblical wisdom by considering the difference between wisdom and knowledge. Knowledge is largely just an accumulation of facts. Wisdom is the ability to make good decisions based upon what we know. Biblical wisdom leads us to make choices that are right and true and of lasting value. It also leads us to a deeper understanding of God and His ways and to live in a way that is consistent with that godly wisdom.

But actually, the ultimate object of acquiring Biblical wisdom is so we can know God – really know Him, as the most real person in our lives and it will cause us to want to me more like Him. Biblical wisdom doesn’t just change our behavior, it changes our character and it makes us more like Him.

Philip Yancey is one of my favorite Christian authors. He once went through a time when he was deeply disappointed with the quality of his relationship with the Lord. His faith was based more on knowledge about God than on a relationship with Him, and it therefore seemed shallow and not very satisfying. So Philip went off to a cabin in the mountains for an extended period of prayer and immersion in the Bible as he sought to encounter God in a deeper and more personal way. He recorded the results in his book “Disappointment with God”:

“Simply reading the Bible, I encountered not a misty vapor but an actual Person. A Person as unique and distinctive and colorful as any person I know. God has deep emotions; he feels delight and frustration and anger … I was unprepared for the joy and anguish – in short, the passion – of the God of the Universe. By studying “about” God, by taming him and reducing him to words and concepts that could be filed away in alphabetical order, I had lost the force of the passionate relationship God seeks above all else. The people who related to God best – Abraham, Moses, David, Isaiah, Jeremiah – treated him with startling familiarity. They talked to God as if he were sitting in a chair beside them, as one might talk to a counselor, a boss, a parent, or a lover. They treated him like a person.”

The ultimate purpose of pursing Biblical wisdom is to encounter God as a real Person. We want to know Him as the most real person in our lives, and we want to adopt His character traits. The highest compliment a child can pay a parent is in their attempt to mimic the parent’s behavior. Biblical wisdom makes us more like our Heavenly Father. Biblical wisdom also leads to a healthy soul, which is the subject we will explore in June.

God Bless,

Our theme for this month: “Wisdom”

Our Bible verse for today: “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit you out of My mouth.” Revelation 3:15-16 (HCSB)

Our thought for today: “Biblical wisdom results in passion for God.”

So, how do you like your drinks? Lukewarm, right? Probably not. We tend to enjoy our drinks either piping hot or ice cold – but not lukewarm. Why? Because lukewarm is bland. Lukewarm is distasteful. Lukewarm is mediocre.

Just as we don’t care for lukewarm drinks so too Jesus doesn’t appreciate lukewarm churches and lukewarm Christians. In fact Revelation 3:15-16 says that He finds lukewarm faith revolting – to the point of making Him gag and even vomit. Wow. That’s harsh. Is it possible that my tepid and lackluster practice of the Christian faith makes Jesus sick to His stomach? Evidently so. Lukewarm faith does nothing to help draw people to the Savior and it does little or nothing to help change the world – all things which are very important to Jesus.

However, developing Biblical wisdom will lead us to be passionate about God and His ways and His mission. When we are wise in the ways of God then The Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20), and The Great Commandment (John 13:34-35) will describe us – we will be out sharing the Good News, making disciples, and then loving people as Jesus loves us. When we are wise in the ways of God then Acts 1:8 will describe our churches and we will find ourselves on-mission with Jesus as the practice of our faith extends well beyond the walls of our church buildings. When we are wise in the ways of God John 15:5 will describe us as individuals and the fruit of Jesus will be evident in our lives. True Biblical wisdom results in a passion for God that is evidenced by a Christian life that is dynamic and alive.

Now I realize of course that in Revelation 3:15-16 Jesus was being metaphorical, He wasn’t really puking. But still, the image is powerful and the message is clear. Lukewarm faith is distasteful and even repulsive to Jesus. I don’t know about you but I don’t want Jesus viewing my faith that way. Spiritual disciplines which lead us to actively pursue Biblical wisdom will result in a faith that is alive and dynamic. 

God Bless,

Our theme for this month: “Wisdom”

Our Bible verse for today: “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight.” 1 Corinthians 3:19 (NIV)

Our thought for today: “Biblical wisdom often seems foolish from a worldly perspective.”

Biblical principles often seem to make little sense to non-Christians. That’s especially true when those principles run counter to cultural trends and politically correct thinking. Current secular thinking about the subject of homosexuality is a case in point. Romans 1:26-27 is just one of the passages in both the Old and New Testaments which make it clear that such conduct is sinful in God’s eyes. But in today’s culture a Biblical perspective on the issue is considered narrow-minded, intolerant, and caveman thinking.

The subject of money is another good example. We live in a consumer-oriented culture with a heavy emphasis on conspicuous consumption. We’e conditioned to spend all we have in order to acquire as much stuff as we can and when we run out of money, we go into debt so we can acquire more stuff. That being the case, we need every dollar we can get our hands on. So passages like Malachi 3:8-10 which instruct us to give the first 10% of all we earn to God to help finance His work here on earth, seem ridiculous. If 100% of our income isn’t enough to meet our ever-expanding desires then how in the world could we get by on 90%?

Yup, the world often views Biblical principles as foolish, ridiculous, and absurd. But that’s ok because God views worldly principles the same way. Paul told us in 1 Corinthians 3:19 that in God’s eyes it’s the wisdom of the world that is foolish – and God proves that to be true by the way. Malachi 3:10 is just one example. There God tells us that if we will obey Him in the area of tithing, give the first 10% to His work as He instructed, He in turn will open the windows of heaven and pour out so much blessing upon us that we won’t be able to take it all in. Material blessings? Maybe. But certainly spiritual blessings. Those of us who have learned to trust God in this way have learned that the old adage is true, “You can live a lot better on 90% with God’s blessing than you can on 100% without His blessing.”

Biblical wisdom seems counter-intuitive from a worldly perspective but experience proves it to be true. Whether we’re talking about how we handle our money, what lifestyle we choose to live, or any other issue we may be facing, God’s way is always the best way. Experience proves that Biblical wisdom trumps worldly wisdom every time.

God Bless,

Our theme for this month: “Wisdom”

Our Bible verse for today: “… and you may be sure that your sin will find you out.” Numbers 32:23 (NIV)

Our thought for today: “A wise person understands that we never really get away with sin.”

In Numbers 32:23 Moses was warning the Transjordan tribes of Israel that if they failed to meet their obligations to the Lord they would – somehow, someday, and in someway – be held accountable by God. Even if they thought they were sinning in secret, even if they were convinced nobody would know, they could be certain that in His way and in His time, God would ensure they suffered the consequences of their sin.

This is a mistake many Christians make. They intentionally and willfully engage in sinful behavior and they foolishly convince themselves that nobody will find out and therefore they will get away with it. Unfortunately for them, nothing is hidden from God and He will not allow sin to go unpunished. And for Christians, the ones for whom Jesus has already paid the eternal price for sins, the punishment must come in this lifetime. And it does.

How many stories have we all heard about the Christian man or woman who secretly had an adulterous affair, certain that nobody would ever know, and yet the truth did come out and the consequences were terrible indeed? There have been cases too numerous to mention of Christians who somehow rationalized in their own minds that it was ok to steal from their employer, perhaps by embezzling funds, and not only were they found out, but they ended up in jail. (We’ve recently had two local cases of this, even in our sleepy little town. And yes, they were both prosecuted.) Then there is the Christian man with the secret sin of pornography. It won’t stay secret forever. Eventually somebody will find out. And so it goes – secret sins that don’t remain secret. The sin always comes out and there is always a price to pay.

In Matthew 10:26 Jesus said “There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known.” (NIV). That is certainly true in an eternal sense with respect to the Day of Judgment, but experience and the Bible both show that it is also true in this life. Secret sins never stay secret.

A wise person understands that we never really get away with sin and therefore the smart thing to do is to avoid intentional sinful behavior to begin with.

God Bless,

Our theme for this month: “Wisdom”

Our Bible verse for today: “If anyone has this world’s goods and sees his brother in need but closes his eyes to his need – how can God’s love reside in him? Little children, we must not love with word or speech, but with truth and action.” 1 John 3:17-18 (HCSB)

Our thought for today: “Biblical wisdom leads us to care for other Christians.”

The letter of 1 John was written by the Apostle John in the last years of his life. By that time he had long been known as “The Apostle of Love”. The reason was that John was a true pastor. He had a huge heart for his people. He longed to see them grow and mature in Christ and he knew that one of the most important measures of how mature a Christian is, is how much love they show for their brothers and sisters in God’s family. Demonstrating love for one another within the family of God was one of John’s most frequently taught lessons. “If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For the person who does not love his brother he has seen cannot love the God he has not seen. And we have this command from Him: The one who loves God must also love his brother.” 1 John 4:20-21

As we’ve learned in previous devotionals so far this month, the people of God have been called by God to be salt and light out there in the world. We are to go out among those who don’t know God and bless them in the name of God. The more spiritually mature we are – the wiser in the ways of God that we have become – the more of that we will do. But even before that, we are to be a blessing to those within the family. We are to take care of our brothers and sisters – if one of them is hurting and in need they should get the first and best of our attention.

Pastor John, this big-hearted Apostle of Love, wanted his people to display their spiritual maturity and their godly wisdom by caring for one another. That lesson applies to us too. We must love one another – really love one another, and it must be demonstrated in deeds rather than just expressed in words. We have to take care of each other.

Has the Holy Spirit brought to your attention a brother or sister who is struggling in some way? Is one of them unemployed and in desperate need of a job? Spend some time today looking for job leads for them. Is a family in your church struggling to make ends meet financially? You could give an anonymous love offering to help and encourage them, or buy them a box of groceries, or bring a meal to their house. Does someone have an unfaithful spouse or a wayward teen? Maybe they need someone who will just sit and listen. You could be that person. Make some time this week to visit a shut-in or someone in a nursing home. How can you be a blessing to a brother or sister today?

“Little children, we must not love with word or speech, but with truth and action.” 1 John 3:18

God Bless,

Our theme for this month: “Wisdom”

Our Bible verse for today: “No one has greater love than this, that he would lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13 (HCSB)

Our thought for today: “Freedom is not free. Many paid the ultimate price to defend our nation.”

Today is Memorial Day and in honor of those who have died defending our nation, instead of writing something about our theme for the month, today I want to devote a few sentences to the subject of this special day.

Memorial Day is often confused with Veteran’s Day. Veteran’s Day is celebrated in November and its purpose is to show national appreciation for all those who have ever served in the Armed Forces of our nation. Memorial Day however, is specifically intended to pay tribute to those members of the Armed Forces who gave their lives in the service of our country.

Traditionally observed on the last Monday in May, Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day. It began shortly after the Civil War when towns and cities in both the North and the South paid tribute to those who had given their lives on both sides of that conflict. The graves of the dead soldiers were decorated, parades were held in their honor, and patriotic speeches were given.

By the 1880’s the spontaneous individual observances of Decoration Day had spread to become a national holiday. Over time, as our nation became involved in more wars, the dead from all of those conflicts were included in the memorial celebrations. Eventually it came to include all members of the Armed Forces who have ever lost their lives in the service of our country, whether through combat related injuries or not. If a person died while on active duty in the Armed Forces then that individual is to be honored on Decoration / Memorial Day.

The title “Memorial Day” seems to have taken root in the public mind slowly over many decades but was finally made official by President Johnson in 1967.

Please take some time today to honor those who have died while serving in the Armed Forces of our country. The phrase “Freedom isn’t free” is so over-used it has become a cliché. And yet, it is profoundly true. The freedoms we enjoy in our nation remain the envy of the world, but they came to us at the cost of great courage and must sacrifice (The Revolutionary War), and those freedoms have been maintained through the centuries at the cost of much more courage and sacrifice. Freedom is not free. Many have paid the ultimate price for it. The rest of us get to live in peace and safety thanks to what they did for us. Remember them today.

God Bless,

Our theme for this month: “Wisdom”

Our Bible verse for today: “Is it a time for you yourselves to live in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins? Now, the Lord of Hosts says this: “Think carefully about your ways.” Haggai 1:4-5 (HCSB)

Our thought for today: “Wise people put the Lord first.”

I’m sure the people of Haggai’s day would have claimed that the Lord was first in their lives, but the evidence proved otherwise. In their case they had been tasked by God to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem but instead they left the temple in ruins while they focused on building their own homes, tending their own crops, and pursing their own interests. They were busy people with full lives and although they would have claimed that God was number one in their lives, He wasn’t. And as a result, they were missing some of God’s best blessings.

So Haggai challenged them to consider the true quality of their lives. While they were so obsessed with their homes and jobs and recreational activities, their lives were still coming up fairly empty. He wrote:

“You have planted much but harvested little. You eat but never have enough to be satisfied. You drink but never have enough to become drunk. You put on clothes but never have enough to get warm. The wage earner puts his wages into a bag with a hole in it.” Haggai 1:6

Despite their obsessive pursuit of worldly concerns their crops were minimal, their clothes gave little real warmth, all their food and drink failed to truly satisfy them, and so Haggai’s message was clear: “If you shortchange God He will withhold His blessings from you.”

Oh, they had material abundance that’s true, but Haggai’s point was that deep in their hearts there was still an emptiness, an unfulfilled longing.

Sadly, their story is our story. We cram our lives full – right to the outer edges with all sorts of things that have little or nothing to do with God. We allow careers, recreational activities, and the expectations of others to monopolize the majority of our time until we have little left for God and His people. We spend all we make to acquire material possessions, go into debt to acquire even more, and then claim we can’t afford to give God the 10% that is rightly His. More is never enough. And when it’s all said and done, when we’ve worked as many hours as we could, played until we dropped, spent until there was nothing more to spend, we discover that there’s still a whole in the middle of our heart that all that activity and stuff didn’t fill for us.

The French philosopher Pascal once observed that, “There is a God-shaped vacuum in the human heart which can only be filled by God.” He was right, but sadly many of us have yet to learn that lesson.

A person who is wise in the ways of God will put God first – really put Him first. When we do, we discover that He Himself meets our true needs, fulfills our deepest longings, and our lives are suddenly richer, fuller, more satisfying than they ever were before.  And, God will often then throw in a bunch of the other blessings as well. Wise people put the Lord first in every area of their lives.

God Bless,