It's A Small World After All

Scripture: Psalm 2

Song: Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!

I stopped to watch a crew of ants working to move a little piece of potato chip. It struck me how very small they were next to me and how vulnerable. I can blow – not very hard – and accomplish what it takes the whole colony of them to do. I can take a twig and with a couple of sweeps bring havoc to their miniature world. A carelessly placed footstep and the entire project is brought to naught.

What’s amazing is that they seem not to notice me unless I get in their way. They go about their business unaware that I’m watching and ignorant of the amusement they give me. They scurry along oblivious to the giant hovering over their world. I looked away from the ants securing their daily bread and up at the clouds traversing a pale blue sky. Somewhere beyond the clouds the Father and His Son look down on our blue-green orb. Like tiny ants occupied with tiny projects that seem so big and important in our tiny world, we’ve not time to look up. How little thought is given to the Gentle Giant of the Heavens who holds our world in His hands. How silly for me to look down and see the ant and then look up and not see Him, and not fear.

“Why do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing?” Like little ants, we’re all so busy getting our little piece of the potato chip we’ve not seen just how little it all really is.

Jason Moore

A Model Prayer

Scripture: Nehemiah 1:1-11

Song: Did You Think To Pray?

The sermon on the mount preserves Jesus’ model prayer. But the Scriptures are replete with other prayers worthy of our imitation such as that of Nehemiah in today’s reading. Look at it again.

It is the widow’s prayer. Jesus told the parable of the widow who pleaded with the unjust judge to avenge her of her adversary. Nehemiah prayed with such persistency “day and night” (v. 6). The Lord’s answer to his plight is a demonstration that God shall indeed “avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him” (Luke 18:7).

It is the sinner’s prayer. “God be merciful to me a sinner!” was Nehemiah’s petition as he mourned the sins of his people and his times. The man who regularly speaks to God and reflects on His law feels the same as God about sin. Nehemiah went down to his house justified for “he who humbles himself will be exalted” (Luke 18:14).

It is the participant’s prayer. Nehemiah didn’t just pray for the Lord to do. He prayed for the Lord to help him do: “Let your servant prosper this day” (v. 11). This is the prayer of faith – the prayer uttered by a man marching off to do the Lord’s bidding. If there is any prayer God will answer, it is the volunteer’s prayer: “Here am I, send me.”

If you wish to offer a prayer that you know will be heard, imitate this model prayer of Nehemiah. It was written for our learning.

Jason Moore

A Sign For All Seasons

Scripture: Acts 2:1-47

Song: Zion’s Call

“They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues…” (Acts 2:4). As with all God’s wonders, there is in the sign of tongues a message in the miracle.

“Go unto all the world.” Salvation is for all. Packaging the message in the languages of many peoples communicated the universal scope of the redemptive plan. “For the promise is to you and to your children and to all who are afar off…” (v. 39).

“Preach the word.” The good news is news. News is meant to be broadcasted, especially good news. This news is not just good, but the best news. It deserves the best advertising – word of mouth.

“All Scripture is inspired of God.” The men of Pentecost spoke not by their own genius but “as the Spirit gave them utterance.” Peoples then and now were assured that this was heaven’s message.

“That they all may be one.” At the Tower of Babel God scattered mankind by confusing his speech. At the cross He reconciled all nations to Himself. The miraculous tongues signified the gospel’s power to reverse the curses brought by sin.

“God has made this Jesus Lord and Christ.” The miracle of tongues said that Jesus lives and reigns. “Being exalted to the right hand of God…He poured out this which you now see and hear” (v. 33).

The miracle of tongue-speaking still has a message for us. Hear it. Live it. Pass it on.

Jason Moore

Two Ways

Scripture: Psalm 1

Song: The Lily Of The Valley

There were two ways to get to my friend Junior Russell’s house. I could take Highway 70 and coast nearly the entire distance. Or I could ride down Cave Creek Road, turn right at Eugene Voiles’ house, and pedal the steep mile-and-a-half to the top of the ridge where Junior lived. I preferred the first route, but Mom didn’t want me riding on the highway. It wasn’t safe. Cars drove too fast along the stretch of highway between our house and the Russell’s. And the route was not only downhill, but curvy so that motorists might not catch sight of a little boy on a bicycle.

So I took the uphill road. It was lonely – not much traffic, slow – especially in July, and bumpy – even on a bicycle. But I rode it – and often – because on the top of the hill at the end of that slow, bumpy road in a small white house lived a little boy named Junior. He was my friend.

The way of the righteous is not the easy way. It’s only for those who pedal hard. The way of the ungodly is mostly downhill. It’s well-paved and boasts lots of traffic. Make no mistake – these two roads are not two ways of getting to the same place. The downhill path promises to be a through street but it’s actually a dead end full of hidden perils. Take the uphill path. It may not be the popular way. But at the end of that winding, rugged road is Someone who’s expecting you. And He’s prepared a place for you to rest when you arrive.

Jason Moore

The Family Together

This blog is a tool for building the habit of assembling the family for daily devotion. The concept is not a new idea, but the recommendation of an old one. Long ago, Moses explained how it is done (Deuteronomy 6:6-9): “And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt…”

“Teach them”—make it a part of your homework.

"Talk of them”—make it a kitchen table conversation.

“Bind them”—mark it on your calendar.

“Write them”—mark it on your “To Do” list.

“In thine heart”—as a quiet time tool.

“Unto thy children”—as a bedtime ritual.

“In thine house”—as a mealtime course.

“By the way”—as a break time refreshment.

“Upon thine hand”—on top of your remote.

“Between thine eyes”—on the front of your fridge.

“Upon thy doorposts”—beside your cereal box.

“On thy gates”—in the center of your coffee table.

“When thou sittest”—before you turn on the TV.

“When thou walkest”—before you go to the mall.

“When thou liest down”—before you brush.

“When thou risest up”—before you read the paper.

“For a sign”—to correct your course.

“As frontlets”—to maintain your vision.

How do you start the family together habit? According to Moses, just like the thousand other habits in your day. You make it a habit. Make it yours.

Jason Moore