Category: devotional

On my way to class this morning I quickly picked a Bible from my shelf to read Hebrews 1:2.  When I opened it to read, it did not say what I had expected.  I was reminded how mentally dependent I had become on the King James Version.

I wanted to talk about Jesus being the creator of “worlds,” plural.  However, the translation I had in class didn’t say “worlds.”  During a break I double-checked the King James and it did say “worlds” so I checked the Greek and to my amazement the word the King James translated “worlds” is more like “ages.”   Jesus is charge of the ages.

I really liked that idea.  Jesus is God incarnate.  Before anything that was He is.  I wanted to say “He was.”  But in John 8:58,  “Jesus said, Before Abraham was, I am.”   He wants us to understand tenses are for us.  In our past He is.  In our present He is.  In our future He is.   He is the eternal commander of the ages.  There never was a time when He was not and there will never be a time when He will not be.

Time is such a relative item.  It takes 176 Earth days for Mercury to rotate on its axis (a Mercurian day) but it only takes 88 Earth days for it to orbit the sun (a Mercurian year).  Thus if we lived on Mercury our years would be shorter than our days.  We might find it confusing and difficult to note our birthdays but for our creator it is no problem.  He is the master of time.

Written by Roger Bothwell on July 8, 2003

rogerbothwell.org

There is an historical event so overwhelming with sorrow, weeping, confession, forgiveness, mercy and love we are not given any information regarding its details.  It happened when Jesus met with Peter the first time after the resurrection.   The last time they were together Peter renounced any relationship with Jesus.  He did this within earshot of Jesus who looked down from the porch into the court and the cock crowed.  Peter knew Jesus heard him.  Talk about getting caught!

Peter and Jesus were best friends.  They fished together.  They traveled together. Peter was with Jesus on the Mountain of Transfiguration.  He saw Moses and Elijah come from heaven to meet with Jesus.  He declared his willingness to die for Jesus and indeed proved his loyalty that very night in the Garden of Gethsemane.  He pulled out a sword and started to fight.  He would have fought to the death had not Jesus called to him to stop.  That was the problem.  He did all he knew how to do and it was the wrong thing.  Peter is so much like us.

When he saw the empty tomb on Sunday morning and knew Jesus was alive the conflict must have been horrendous.  He wanted desperately to see Jesus but had to be afraid because of the three denials.   What unfolded when Jesus came to him needed no background violins or soft piano music to build emotion.  This was a scene of two men embraced in reconciliation.

If Jesus could do that for Peter just think of what he can do for you and me.

Written by Roger Bothwell on July 1, 2003

rogerbothwell.org

I know an author who tells me the most fun thing in life is the creation of a character.  However, contrary to popular opinion once the character is created the author does not have the freedom to have him or her do anything the author desires.  Once the personality is formed the character must remain consistent for the story to be believable.  Once the characters are on paper they write the story and the author along with us is often surprised at the ending.

Sometimes we think because God is God He can make us do anything He wills.  He could have made the universe that way but He didn’t.  Instead He created these marvelous thinking, choosing creatures we call us.  We have the power to become the kind of person we desire.  We can be strong if we want. However, there is a downside to being strong.  If so, then you have to be willing to be responsible.  Some of us choose to be weak and let others lead.  When things go wrong it is not our fault.  There are so many things we can be.  Each has its pluses and minuses.

Each of us is an author.  Each of us will stand before God and show Him what we have written.  However, there is one thing we do not have to write.  Hebrews 12:2 reads, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; . . .”   If we choose Jesus will author that for us.  He will be responsible for us.  We can choose to author our own faith but I don’t think we would like the ending.

Written by Roger Bothwell on June 30, 2003

rogerbothwell.org

One of the great things about summer is melons.  It is true; melons are shipped to our grocery stores all winter.  However, those just don’t taste good probably because are picked while they are green in order to ship them to market.  Homegrown melons just taste so much better.  Maybe it’s the time of the year.  Who wants to eat watermelon for Christmas?  But on a hot summer day it is marvelous.

Some people like to put salt on their melons.  Others like their cantaloupe with a scoop of ice cream filling the hole in the middle.  Do you remember when stores would plug a watermelon for you, and if you did not like the taste they just threw away that melon and let you plug another?  Wow, just try that today!  Others pick out cantaloupes by smelling the stem end.

According to the book of Numbers one of the foods the children of Israel missed after they left Egypt was melons.  The wilderness where they wandered about forty years was a pretty hot place and melons would have been great.  However, they did get manna every morning.  But even the best food in the world gets a bit boring when you have it every single day.  God has been so good to us.  He has filled the earth with a huge variety of good things.  What a gracious wonderful God!

Written by Roger Bothwell on July 27, 2000

rogerbothwell.org

They were both wearing wedding rings so I am going to believe they were married to each other.   What cast just a hint of suspicion was the way they acted.  They were sitting at a restaurant table talking to each other and laughing.  That’s not normal.  Normal married people at a restaurant don’t talk to each other.  Usually each is too busy texting someone else.  There was something else abnormal about this couple.  She was all dolled up with makeup and jewelry with freshly quaffed dyed hair.  Oh, there was one more thing.  I think they were both ninety. You could tell by the way he looked at her that he thought she was beautiful.  And you could tell by the expression on her face that she knew he thought she was beautiful.  You just have to love a woman who never gives up; no matter how old.  Maybe she keeps trying because she knows he loves her efforts.

Song of Solomon is quite a book.  It has entertained a lot of boys sitting through dull sermons.  Some people have tried to justify its presence in Scripture as a metaphor of Christ and His bride, His church.  I really don’t think so but I could be very wrong.  I am wrong about much.  However, it is true that God does think we are beautiful.  Love is blind; even for God.  Most likely it is because He knows what we will be.  We are bundles of potentiality.  In Revelation we are portrayed as the bride for Christ and have you ever seen a bride that isn’t beautiful? It isn’t about the shape of a nose or cheekbones.  It is the glow of happiness.  That’s what I saw in the elderly lady in the restaurant.

Written by Roger Bothwell on August 22, 2014

rogerbothwell.org

While channel surfing this morning I came across an old Hopalong Cassidy film.  I had forgotten how wonderfully unrealistic they were.  Hoppy always shoots the gun out the bad guy’s hand without wounding it.  The bad guy’s bullets never hit anything the bad guy is aiming at.  The bad guy can hit Hoppy on the head with the handle of his six-shooter only to have Hoppy wake up in a few minutes with no wound, no concussion and no headache.  Hoppy’s hat never falls off and his pure white horse is faster than any of the bad guys’ horses.  Hoppy is played by an actor name William Boyd and I did notice as I read the credits that the movie was a William Boyd production.  Yes, he was in charge of all the details.

This world is God’s production.  But it was hi-jacked.  God is no longer in charge of all the details.  The hi-jacker has filled God’s creation with pain, dishonor and death.  A billion things a day happen here that are not God’s will. The bad guys do shoot good people.  The bad guys are sometimes faster than the good guys.  When the Creator Himself came to save us He did not wake up from a smash on the head.  He died.  However, lest we be disheartened, just like a Hopalong Cassidy film our Hero will ultimately win.  He rose from His grave and all who love and believe Him will join Him in His victory.  Instead of a hat He wears a crown.  And, yes, our Champion rides a white horse.  “I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True.”  Revelation 19:11

Written by Roger Bothwell on May 5, 2014

rogerbothwell.org

I have always thought the American flag is beautiful.  I love the color combinations of red, white and blue.  I love the stripes and stars.  I wonder if everyone thinks their country’s flag is beautiful.  I have seen many flags that I think are (I want to use the word “ugly” but I will restrain myself.) unpleasant to the eye.  I wonder about this because I know that beauty is in the eye of the beholder.  One’s flag is pregnant with meaning.  It is about home and family.  It is about safety and the place that nurtures you.  We bring to a flag deep emotions and pride.  Can all those factors make any combination of colors beautiful when placed on a flag?

I always thought my mother was beautiful.  Was that because she was beautiful or because she was my mother?  I really don’t know.  I cannot answer.  Sometimes we see a husband and wife where one is very attractive and the other very plain.  We wonder how the plain one managed to catch the good looking one.  Sometimes we are fortunate enough to get to know them and then we understand.  When we first met them we only looked at the surface.  Later we came to see extraordinary beauty from both of them.  They belonged together.

Isaiah 52:7 says, “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation.”  It’s all in the message.  Which means I must be looking good because I am sharing with you the most fabulous good news of all time.  Jesus loves you dearly and offers you the free gift of forgiveness, redemption and eternity.

Written by Roger Bothwell on January 1, 2014

rogerbothwell.org

Yesterday along with friends we stopped for a picnic.  As we walked to the outdoor table we notice a very pretty Irish Setter kind of dog lying by a car.  At first I thought he was chained but soon a man came and asked how long the dog had been there.  We didn’t know.  The man then said, “I was so scared.  I thought he was lost.”  They had gone for a walk and when the dog lost sight of his master he went back to the car to wait.  Smart dog.

I think sometimes we humans underestimate the intelligence of the rest of God’s creatures.  They most likely know much more than we think they know.  The dog by the car didn’t seem distressed.  It calmly watched us set out our picnic.  It knew where it was and knew his master would be back.  It was merely a matter of time.

It should be like that with us.  The world is falling apart and we are waiting for our master’s return.  I hope we are doing it calmly.  Worry and stress truly eat away at the quality of our lives.  Jesus gave us so many promises of His care and that He would return.   He said, “I go to prepare a place for you and if I do that I will come again so you can be with me.”  He will not disappoint.  He will do as He says.  So let’s calmly wait and watch what unfolds around us.

There are so many things we can learn from our animals. They love us but sometimes I must confess my dog wants so much to be the alpha female in the house she can be a pest.  I love it.

Written by Roger Bothwell on June 29, 2009

rogerbothwell.org

One of the funeral homes in our little city has the following sign by the street where its driveway begins.  “A Journey Funeral Home.  Not a thruway.”  Right they are.  It’s not a thruway it’s a dead end.  The guest of honor never leaves alive.  But wait.  Is that always true?  Jesus spoke of death as a sleep.  See John 11.   In I Thessalonians Paul spoke of a great trumpet blast at a day of resurrection when the sleepers will awaken and all the promises Jesus made will come true.

I’m thinking I should have my wife put a sign on my cement sarcophagus with one of the following messages, “Just passing through” or maybe “Shhh, sleeping.”  “He loved naps.”  “If you thought he looked good today just wait until the next time you see him.”  “And now for the main event.”  I’m thinking I should video tape my own funeral sermon.  That way I can make sure the stories that are told about me are made up by me.

We are on a great journey.  The destination is unknown, even for those who trust Jesus.  Scripture says, “Eye hath not seen nor ear heard the wonders that await us.”  In Ephesians 2 Paul tells us God will spend eternity showering us with gifts of grace because it makes Him happy.  It is His pleasure.  This is not for the timid nor the cowardly.  It is for the brave who seek to learn, to explore, to grow, to contribute, to serve and to love.  When couples marry they embark on an unknown journey.  When we unite ourselves with Jesus the journey that follows is totally out of this world.  Death is but a thruway.

Written by Roger Bothwell on April 11, 2014

rogerbothwell.org

 

What I ate for breakfast this morning traveled much more than I ever have.  My orange juice came from Brazil.  My banana came from Central America.  My shredded wheat came from Canada.  The sugar I put on my shredded wheat came from the Dominican Republic and my mandarin oranges came from China.  I think my milk was local and came from here in Massachusetts. As each week passes, our little planet gets even smaller.  Our technology and transportation have made people in India our neighbors.

When my wife and I were teaching in Uganda we relied on flimsy blue air mail letters to communicate with our family in the States.  Once each eighteen months we made an appointment to go to Kampala to have an operator place a three minute telephone call for us to our families.  Today teachers in Uganda daily use Skype or Facetime, not to just talk, but to see their loved ones in the States.

When Jesus gave His disciples the Great Gospel Commission to take the Gospel to the world they had no idea how far they had to go.  When I was a little boy there was a world map in our church with countries marked that had a Christian population.  I remember a large number of countries that were not marked.  I doubt if there are any nations left without Christians.  So what is Jesus waiting for?   Why does He not return?   We don’t know.   He will come in His time.  He will come when His infinite wisdom says it is time.  In the meantime our task is to allow Him to work out His life in us that we are ready to be with Him whenever.

Written by Roger Bothwell on December 14, 2012

rogerbothwell.org