Christian Devotionals for October

Do you recognize the song? It is identified at the end of the articles for the month.

To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most requested column I've ever written. My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words ''In five years, will this matter?"

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time, time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

42. The best is yet to come.

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

A Call to Common Courtesy

by Max Lucado

Perhaps you’ve never placed the word courteous next to Christ. I hadn’t until I wrote this chapter.

But you know how you never notice double-cab red trucks until your friend says he wants one—then you see a dozen of them? I had never thought much about the courtesy of Christ before, but as I began looking, I realized that Jesus makes Emily Post look like Archie Bunker.

He always knocks before entering. He doesn’t have to. He owns your heart. If anyone has the right to barge in, Christ does. But he doesn’t. That gentle tap you hear? It’s Christ. “Behold, I stand at the door and knock” (Rev. 3:20 NASB). And when you answer, he awaits your invitation to cross the threshold.

And when he enters, he always brings a gift. Some bring Chianti and daisies. Christ brings “the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). And, as he stays, he serves. “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve” (Mark 10:45 NIV). If you’re missing your apron, you’ll find it on him. He’s serving the guests as they sit (John 13:4–5). He won’t eat until he’s offered thanks, and he won’t leave until the leftovers are put away (Matt. 14:19–20).

He is courteous enough to tell you his name (Exod. 3:15) and to call you by yours (John 10:3). And when you talk, he never interrupts. He listens.

He is even on time. Never late. Never early. If you’re checking your watch, it’s because you’re on a different itinerary. “There is a time for everything” (Eccles. 3:1). And Christ stays on schedule.

He even opens doors for you. Paul could preach at Troas because “the Lord had opened a door” (2 Cor. 2:12 NIV). When I asked my dad why men should open doors for women, his answer was one word: “respect.” Christ must have abundant respect for you.

He knocks before he enters. He always brings a gift. Food is served. The table is cleared. Thanks are offered. He knows your name and tells you his, and here is one more.

He pulls out the chair for you. “He raised us up with Christ and gave us a seat with him in the heavens” (Eph. 2:6).

My wife has a heart for single moms. She loves to include a widow or divorcée at the table when we go to a restaurant. Through the years I’ve noticed a common appreciation from them. They love it when I pull out their chair. More than once they have specifically thanked me. One mom in particular comes to mind. “My,” she blushed, brushing the sudden moisture from her eye, “it’s been a while since anyone did that.”

Has it been a while for you as well? People can be so rude. We snatch parking places. We forget names. We interrupt. We fail to show up. Could you use some courtesy? Has it been a while since someone pulled out your chair?

Then let Jesus. Don’t hurry through this thought. Receive the courtesy of Christ. He’s your groom. Does not the groom cherish the bride? Respect the bride? Honor the bride? Let Christ do what he longs to do.

For as you receive his love, you’ll find it easier to give yours. As you reflect on his courtesy to you, you’ll be likely to offer the same.

From A Love Worth Giving
Copyright (Thomas Nelson, 2002) Max Lucado

A senior pastor was sent a challenge to play a game of chess. The anonymous note said, "Victorious One: You are an undisputed Grandmaster. You've beaten your fellow servants frequently. You played against other senior pastors and won. Now, come beat me."

Game day came and the senior pastor found himself seated across a chess board from none other than Satan himself. In this knockout tournament, the pastor drew white winning the right to begin first. The devil grabbed the white piece from him and said Arrogantly, "I always move first."

Each set up their pieces and began to formulate strategy. The senior pastor was nervous but confident and declared to the enemy, "I will win. I have the mind of Christ." Then the devil smiled a devilish smile and said, glancing at the senior pastor's side of the board, "I cannot outwit the mind of Christ but you I will easily beat."

The first match was on. Satan played with cunning and strategy and it became quickly clear the senior pastor was outgunned. Satan moved a pawn in gambit striking from the flank and taking an unguarded rook. Loss piled upon loss. No matter how valiantly he tried to respond, no matter if his moves were rooted in sacrifice or power, the senior pastor blundered. Every move he made seemed to benefit the adversary.

The chessboard carnage was brutal and the senior pastor was finally humbled to desperate prayer. The devil laughed as he cried out, "Lord, I need wisdom. I have your mind yet I am being Outplayed, outmaneuvered, and beaten at every turn. Why, Lord? Why?"

The stunned senior pastor watched his king fall as he listened to the enemy's taunts and, though he felt he had failed God, he humbled himself further crying out all the more for wisdom. How do you beat a master tactician and swindler like the devil? When the 2 minute warning sounded, he began to reset his side of the board for the next round. He was weighed down by a sickening dread when suddenly the Holy Spirit of God came upon him and said: "review the board."

The senior pastor looked at the enemy's pieces: pawns aligned on the front row with rooks, knights, bishops, queen and king in the back. Everything was in perfect military precision waiting for the strategic battle to commence.

The senior pastor then looked at his side of the board. He had the same pieces: pawns, rooks, knights, bishops, queen and king. He noticed, as if for the first time, that things were askew. Mentally reviewing the rules of engagement, he realized he had placed a pawn where a rook should be, a knight in the place of a bishop and, as he thought back on the failures of the first round, He saw that even the queen was occasionally out of place taking over the king's role. These foolish blunders were done at his command.

And the senior pastor had an epiphany. He had all the right pieces but many were serving in the wrong place on the board in roles they were not empowered to play. "I have played like a fool," he said aloud. "I am only a servant and not the master of the game." He began to rearrange the board setting the pieces, kingside and queenside, into their rightful places. And the chessboard transformed into a battlefield.

The devil looked at the repositioned board in alarm. His eyes narrowed and he said slyly, "perhaps, senior pastor, your first strategy was right. Move those pieces any way you wish. After all, you're in charge, right? I must have gotten lucky the first round; that's all it was, just dumb luck. You've played your brothers in Christ and beaten them all."

The pastor knew his cagey opponent was only seeking for an opportunity to devour him again, and replied, "I did beat my fellow servants and I was wrong to do so. Today, I repent. Devil, you did Not defeat the mind of Christ. You only defeated me. I see now it is not mine to tell a piece how to serve nor is it mine to dictate anyone's destiny or calling. My role is to help all to work together in their unique giftings for the advancement of the kingdom of God."

The devil's face went ashen and he said, tempting the pastor to pride, "you are the grandmaster, the senior pastor. You decide what people should do and be!"

The servant pastor smiled humbly as he placed the last pawn in its correct position. "It occurs to me now that to have the mind of Christ in operation in my life and ministry, He must be the senior pastor and I must be the under shepherd. I will rely on his leadings to beat you. And, as you yourself so wisely said, you cannot beat the mind of Christ."

The devil began to panic and said, "no, go back to your nepotism. Your church has always been run like a family business with you, your family, and your friends in charge. This could go badly for you. You will no longer be the senior pastor. Why give up your power?"

And the under shepherd servant pastor said meekly, "Christ alone is the senior pastor and it was never mine to dictate who serves where or how. Each piece must move in the light it is called to just as He himself is in the light. It is his kingdom, not mine."

He continued, "The board was out of order. I was out of order. Christ is now our senior pastor and divine order has been re-established. I neither submitted myself to God nor did I resist you at first play which gave you first-move advantage. I will not be so foolish again. And now," he said, redirecting his attention to the strategically placed pieces on the board, "let us pray for guidance as we play for victory. Christ himself will lead us as our senior pastor and grandmaster!"

This match was to be played to sudden death. The devil raged for he now knew his time was short. And the battle was on.

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Your Kindness Quotient

by Max Lucado

How kind are you? What is your kindness quotient? When was the last time you did something kind for someone in your family—e.g., got a blanket, cleaned off the table, prepared the coffee—without being asked?

Think about your school or workplace. Which person is the most overlooked or avoided? A shy student? A grumpy employee? Maybe he doesn’t speak the language. Maybe she doesn’t fit in. Are you kind to this person?

Kind hearts are quietly kind. They let the car cut into traffic and the young mom with three kids move up in the checkout line. They pick up the neighbor’s trash can that rolled into the street. And they are especially kind at church. They understand that perhaps the neediest person they’ll meet all week is the one standing in the foyer or sitting on the row behind them in worship. Paul writes: “When we have the opportunity to help anyone, we should do it. But we should give special attention to those who are in the family of believers” (Gal. 6:10).

And, here is a challenge—what about your enemies? With the boss who fired you or the wife who left you. Suppose you surprised them with kindness? Not easy? No, it’s not. But mercy is the deepest gesture of kindness. Paul equates the two. “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you” (Eph. 4:32 NKJV). Jesus said:

Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you.… If you love only the people who love you, what praise should you get? … [Love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without hoping to get anything back. Then you will have a great reward, and you will be children of the Most High God, because he is kind even to people who are ungrateful and full of sin. Show mercy, just as your Father shows mercy. (Luke 6:27–28, 32, 35–36)

Kindness at home. Kindness in public. Kindness at church and kindness with your enemies. Pretty well covers the gamut, don’t you think? Almost. Someone else needs your kindness. Who could that be? You.

Since he is so kind to us, can’t we be a little kinder to ourselves? Oh, but you don’t know me, Max. You don’t know my faults and my thoughts. You don’t know the gripes I grumble and the complaints I mumble. No, I don’t, but he does. He knows everything about you, yet he doesn’t hold back his kindness toward you. Has he, knowing all your secrets, retracted one promise or reclaimed one gift?

No, he is kind to you. Why don’t you be kind to yourself? He forgives your faults. Why don’t you do the same? He thinks tomorrow is worth living. Why don’t you agree? He believes in you enough to call you his ambassador, his follower, even his child. Why not take his cue and believe in yourself?

Be kind to yourself. God thinks you’re worth his kindness. And he’s a good judge of character.

I was able to make a fresh start recently. It felt so good to be able to put all of those past mistakes behind me. It felt so wonderful to be able to look towards the future with clear eyes and a clean heart. It felt so glorious to greet the new day with a peaceful mind and a joyful soul.

I didn't get my fresh start by moving to another town, however. I didn't get it by starting a new job. I didn't get it by going on vacation. I didn't get it by buying something either. I didn't get it by changing the world around me at all. Those types of changes never work anyway. You can't clean your house by sweeping the sidewalk, after all.

How did I get my fresh start then? Why, I simply opened my eyes this morning. You see, every day of our lives can be a fresh start if we wish. Each new morning is another gift from God when we can begin again to clean our house within and to live our lives better than we did before. Each new day is a fresh beginning to choose love, create joy, spread laughter, help others, and give something back to the world. Each new moment is another chance to share a hug, a smile, a compliment, or an act of kindness. It doesn't matter how many mistakes we have made, wrong turns we have taken, or days we have wasted. We all can begin again this morning, this day, and right now. God is there waiting to help us to live and love as we were meant to.

There is an old saying that goes, "If you wake up breathing, you have another chance." Don't waste your chance today. Make your fresh start now. Wake up this morning and say, "Good morning God! Thank you for my life!" Then go out and live it in joy, love, and oneness with Him. Open your heart, soul, and mind to the love, goodness, and delight that is all around you. Share all the wonder, talent, compassion, and uniqueness that is within you. Help to build a better world with the life you live in it. And seize each new day as a fresh start to live and love.