Devotion for the week of March 19, 2007

A few weeks ago when I was down in Virginia visiting my folks, a story my father told me during dinner was one I did not remember. I wanted a new skateboard, because I had taken my old one apart and lost some parts (sounds typical). My parents decided that this was a good opportunity to teach me something about responsibility and the value of money. They made an arrangement with me, if I save half the money for the skateboard from my allowance, they would chip in the other half. According to dad, I did not think this was a great deal, but I agreed to it.

The first Saturday morning after making the deal with my parents, I received my allowance. So I went into my room, closed the door, and took out all the loose chance I had in my top dresser drawer - what was known as the "junk drawer." As I was in my room counting my money, my dad could hear the bell on the ice cream truck down the street, getting closer and louder. Both my parents were waiting to see what would happen. Dad said there was no sound coming from my room at all, even when the ice cream truck stop a few houses from ours.

As the ice cream truck drove away and the bell could no longer be heard, my father says that he heard me say, "Dear God, please don't let the ice cream truck come down my street anymore."

Prayer - even then it was a good idea. As the Lord's prayer says, "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Blessed is anyone who endures temptation. Such a one has stood the test and will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. (James 1:12)

Devotion for the week of March 5, 2007

Baseball season has not even begun yet, yet I'm following the movement of football players between teams. This is has to do with watching my players for this coming fantasy football session. Trying to get the jump on the others in my fantasy league and figure out who are going to be the great players this year. And as I do this, I ask myself, what makes a person truly great?

Wow, now I’ve gone and done it - I’ve asked myself a philosophical, ethical and spiritual question.

We certainly have a lot of sports and activities in our society to help us find out who is the greatest. We defiantly live in a competitive world and my family can certainly tell you about the ways I am competitive. But does being competitive and winning make a person truly great?

Probably not. Jesus does, however, give us some important characteristics that do make us truly great.

We all love happy endings. I remember hearing a story about Hollywood producer Sam Goldwyn. He once listened to director Billy Wilder describe in detail the true life story of a famous artist. Wilder thought it would make a great movie.

"Does it end happy?" Goldwyn wanted to know.
"Well," said Wilder, "it winds up with the guy in an insane asylum thinking he's a horse."

Goldwyn threw Wilder out the door. But Wilder wasn't discouraged. He poked his head back in and said, "Okay, how about if at the end the guy who thinks he's a horse . . . goes on to win the Kentucky Derby."

We love it when the good guy comes out on top. And being a servant is a lot like coming out on top at the end of a good movie. A servant will have lots of hardships, work hard behind the scenes, and little recognition, but in the end a true servant will be rewarded by being the greatest in the sight of God. Jesus is truly the greatest servant and we should strive to be more like him. Then we too will be great.

And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kindly to everyone, an apt teacher, patient, correcting opponents with gentleness. (II Timothy 2:24-25)