Category: devotional

Tucked away in many closets and cupboards are stacks of old table games: Monopoly, Careers, Candyland, Memory, Mastermind and others.  The sight of them often brings memories of eager little ones begging for someone to play with them.  Ah, the fine art of playing games with children.  It is called, “How to let them win without their knowing you are letting them win.”  Those same little ones years later have most likely learned the fine art of, “How to let the old guy win without his knowing they are letting him win!”

We all like to win and a favorite verse of Scripture is about winning.  In Romans 8:37 we read, “…in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”  Jesus makes sure we are winners.  The passage goes on to say that there is nothing in heaven or on earth that can separate us from God’s love. Talk about winning!  It is so grand; Paul says we are more than winners.  What we get is so wonderful it is beyond our concept of what it means to win.

In Philippians 3:14 Paul writes, “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”  Since Paul tells us in Ephesians 2 that we have eternal life as a gift, eternal life cannot be what we are trying to win.  We already have the gift.  Read the verse more carefully.  The prize we are to win is our high calling to be like Jesus Himself.

Written by Roger Bothwell on April 5, 2002

Spring of Life, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574

Rogerbothwell.org

There is a place called Means Dry Lake in the Mojave Desert in Southern California.  Each February off-road racers gather to ply their skills at driving over huge rocks without breaking their cars.  An issue at the race is cell phone service. It is very erratic.  However, someone discovered a particular bush in the middle of Dry Lake where service is excellent for several carriers.  Throughout the day cars congregate around the bush.  One can talk to their families afar if they know where to go.

That is pretty much like most things in life.  You need to know where to go.  If you want a good education you need to pick the school that specializes in your dream.  If you want good ice cream you need to find the store that sells your favorite.  If you want to marry a compatible spouse go where your kind of people congregate.  If you want to live forever go find Jesus.   If you want to know about His life go to the Gospels.  If you want to know what Jesus’ life means for the entire universe go to the writings of Paul.

If you need understanding go to Jesus.  He is the Light of the world.  If you are thirsty for meaning in your life go to Jesus.  He said, “If any man thirst let him come unto me.”  If you need rest from guilt go to Jesus.  He said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more.”  Successfully navigating life is knowing where to go.  Our task, our mission is to be good navigators.  We can’t save anyone.  We can’t resolve the broken issues in their lives.  But we can point the way.

Written by Roger Bothwell on February 6, 2014

Spring of Life, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574

Rogerbothwell.org

 

It happens occasionally and recently was one of those days.  Someone in a race cheated by taking a shortcut.  The King of the Hammers is an off-road race in the Mojave Desert and the first place winner in his class of cars took a detour that avoided the worst rocks.  How could he have possibly thought he could get away with it?  There were video cameras at the spot he missed and he never showed up at that place.  Many years ago at the New York City Marathon a runner took the subway for a few miles of the race.  This is worse than the tortoise and the hare.  All the hare did was to take a nap.  He never cheated.  He just had too much confidence.

The last verse of Ecclesiastes is a scary text.  It reads, “For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.”  The video is recording.  It reminds one of Santa Claus Is Coming to Town.  He’s making a list and checking it twice to see who’s been naughty or nice.  He sees you when you’re sleeping.  He knows when you’re awake. So you better watch out. You better be nice.”

Before I understood how forgiving God is I was very fearful because of that verse in Ecclesiastes. But now I understand.  God is watching us always so He can catch us doing something good.  He doesn’t want to miss that magic moment when we stop trying to earn salvation and instead surrender and accept the gift of His grace.  He doesn’t have to watch to catch us doing bad.  We do plenty of that.  He is watching to catch us doing something good.  How grand.

Written by Roger Bothwell on February 7, 2014

Spring of Life, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574

Rogerbothwell.org

 

If you want a visual of Luke 15:7 where Jesus talks about rejoicing in heaven when a sinner repents, just watch one program of American Idol when the person auditioning wins the opportunity to go to the next level.   While the winner is excited, it is their families that go crazy.  Mothers scream, fathers cry and brothers and sisters jump up and down and immerse the winner with hugs.  For me it is the best part of the program.

In Revelation John talks about tears in heaven being wiped away.  I think he was talking about tears of pain and loss.  I don’t think he was talking about tears of joy. So it is that Jesus tells us when we accept His offered gift of eternal life and love, our heavenly family goes crazy with joy.   I am sure when our names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life our heavenly Father wipes away His tears.

Also on American Idol families are flabbergasted when their loved one doesn’t move on.  They can’t believe that the judges lacked insight to see how great their loved one is.  Love is blind.  So is God’s love for us blind?   I want to say, “Yes.”  But I know better.  God knows the truth about everything.  Actually that makes His love for us all the more amazing.  He isn’t blind to our faults and He still rejoices when we confirm our ticket.  Now that is grand.

Written by Roger Bothwell on January 31, 2014

Spring of Life, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574

Rogerbothwell.org

In the midst of yet another winter storm, eighty miles away from where the Pilgrims landed in 1620, I sit behind double-paned windows nourished and warm.  That first winter here was so harsh for the Pilgrims half of them perished before spring.   I know my comfort is not the product of what I have done.  I drive on roads others have built.  I am warm because others bring fuel.  I turn on a tap for water because others plumbed our city.  I had strawberries today because others brought them here. Without others I would be like those first Pilgrims and not see spring.

None of us are self-made even if we are ignorant enough to think we are.   So why is it that so many of us think we can be saved because of our goodness?  It doesn’t make sense, especially when we understand our need for what others have done to enable our daily survival.   How much more do we need the work of others, or should I say another, if we are to survive eternity.   Paul, a man of incredible discipline, dedicated to a life of perfection, realized he just couldn’t do it.  In Romans 7 he describes his painful failure.  He wrote, “Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me.”  He finally calls himself a “wretched man.”

However, Paul knew where to find help.  He wrote, “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”  We live daily because of the works of others.  We will live forever because of the work of an Other.

Written by Roger Bothwell on February 14, 2014

Spring of Life, PO Bo 124, St. Helena, CA 94574

Rogerbothwell.org

 

It’s Patriots Day in Massachusetts.  It’s a day more noted for the Boston Marathon than the farmers at Concord Bridge.  Over a half million people will watch either from roadsides or their televisions as 26,000 plus runners will challenge themselves to complete a lifelong goal.  For most it will be the pride of finishing but for others it will be life changing.  Young people from the Kenya highlands will run not to just finish but to win.  Since 1988 20 of the 25 first-place men have been from Kenya.  Winning transforms their lives and the lives of their families as they return home as heroes.

The fulfillment of a lifelong dream is a heady experience.  One does not know if one should celebrate or mourn.  After the ecstasy of accomplishment comes the thought, “What do I do with the rest of my life?”  The brevity of life rarely allows us time to start over with a new dream.  There are a few fortunate individuals who wear many crowns but for most it is a singular experience.  This is what makes God’s gift to us so remarkable. There will be ample time to achieve over and over again; not in the same field but in multiple fields.

I once knew someone who was convinced the moment they are in heaven they will be instantly gifted in any desired area.  How horribly boring that would be!  Challenges to grow are the spice of life.  To learn, to practice, to err, to finally do is what eternity is all about.  If not, it would be one boring hell.  I have so many friends who intrigue me because of their gifts.  I can only imagine how much more accomplished they will be when time becomes meaningless

Written by Roger Bothwell on April 15, 2013

Spring of Life, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574

Rogerbothwell.org

My car needed a new rear window wiper.   When I looked in the mirror I saw a stray strip of rubber swinging back and forth.   Sometimes life works because just then an auto parts store came into view.    It gets even better.  After I purchased the new blade the man behind the counter said, “Just a minute.  I’ll put it on for you.”  He went out in the cold while I waited in his warm store.  Sometimes life really works.

For all the complaints I have about getting old there are some pluses.  People look at me and think I need help.  That’s great.  At the college where I teach students are continually holding doors open for me.  Add that to the senior discounts I get and the check I get every month from Uncle Sam I have to say, “Sometimes Life Works.”

Now it keeps getting better.  Jesus has forgiven all my sins.   I almost wrote “all my mistakes.”   But that wouldn’t be right.  All sins are mistakes but not all mistakes are sins.   In John 5 Jesus tells us we get to bypass judgment.  He treats us as if we had never sinned.  Sometimes eternal life works.  What is so wonderful about this is unlike the Olympics where there are only three winners.  Everyone who accepts God’s gift is a winner.  But wait, it gets better, there are no silver and bronze winners.  Everyone wins gold.  The promises are real.  All the time eternal life works!

Written by Roger Bothwell on February 13, 2014

Spring of Life, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574

Rogerbothwell.org

 

One of the things I love about where I live is there are no street lights.  On moonless nights when I stand in my front yard the only manmade lights I see are the occasionally passing jets on their way to Boston.  The other lights I see are far away suns bringing light to their neighborhoods. In Genesis 1 it says on the first day God made light.  He must love light.  It was a name Jesus took for Himself when He said, “I am the light of the world.”  If I am to be like Him, and I want to be, I too must become a light.

There is another – the Prince of Darkness.  He is a deceiver and liar and is thrilled when we become purveyors of his products.  When we hear dark tales of innuendo and outright falsities and pass them on we have become his unwitting salesperson.  We do it in subtle ways to soothe any unease we might have in doing so.  We preface with “I’m not sure this is true, but …” or “I heard the funniest story. You’ll love this.” And so the dark seed is sown. Sometimes we even think it is true and pass it on because we have heard it on the “news.”  And if it is true have we been called to be passers-on of that which disparages another’s name?

Paul wrote to the Philippians “Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.”  Before passing on a whisper, an innuendo or email forward we need to ask “Would Jesus do this?”

Written by Roger Bothwell on March 19, 2014

Spring of Life, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574

Rogerbothwell.org

 

Children love to taunt each other with “I’ve got a secret.”  Secrets are fun to hear and fun to tell.  They spark our curiosity and whet our appetites to know whatever the hidden information might be.  The Bible contains secrets. According to Deuteronomy 34:6 the location of Moses’ grave was a secret lest the people turn it into a shrine.  When the Babylonians came to destroy Jerusalem in 586 BC the priests hid the Ark of the Covenant in a secret location lest it fall into pagan hands.  In Job 38 God reveals to Job just how little Job knew about the secrets of nature.

In Matthew 13:11 Jesus said to His disciples, “The secrets of the kingdom of heaven have been given to you, but not to them.”   In I Corinthians 1 Paul speaks of the message of the cross being foolishness to those who do not believe.  It is because they do not know the secrets.  To comprehend the power of the cross is only possible when the Holy Spirit whispers understanding.  It is heard only by those who want to know. To those who want to mock there is no dearth of human logic to bring to bear.  The cross is insane.  How could one individual atone for all the sins of this world?  How could God care so much as to send His only Son here in human form?  The story is not logical.  And those who do not believe look at those of us who do believe and think we are a bit addled and have very low IQ’s.  However, it is just the opposite.  You see we know a secret.  It is the secret of love.  It is the secret of eternal life.

Written by Roger Bothwell on April 12, 2013

Spring of Life, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574

Rogerbothwell.org

 

 

Peter and John were able to get into the courtyard during Jesus’ trial that fateful Thursday night.  The horror of the incredible abuse being heaped upon Jesus filled them with almost uncontrollable emotions.  How could it be happening?  This was their Messiah.  He silenced furious storms on the sea.  He put new fingers on the hands of lepers.  Surely He could escape.  They had on past occasions seen Him escape death.  In Nazareth His relatives and neighbors tried to throw Him off a cliff.  He just vanished.  So why not now?  They did not understand.  Their feelings soared and plunged as they witnessed the incredible cruelty.  With each blow they must have thought, “That’s enough. Now He will stop it.”  But He didn’t He just continued to take all the vileness Satan could inspire in those sorry individuals who really had no idea with whom they were dealing.

We also have moments of not understanding the vicissitudes of life.   One day all is well and we are filled with thanksgiving and the next day things are not well and we doubt if God is in control or if He really cares.  If He is God why can’t He stop the pain and make things go the way we think they should go?  We are just like His disciples.  We do not understand the larger scenario.  There are forces battling for our souls.  What is intriguing is God has to play by the rules.  His nature dictates fairness and love while the enemy deceives, lies, steals, causes pain, etc.  It seems like it is not a level playing field; however, the really good news is God will ultimately win if we continue to trust and He will help us trust if we ask.

Written by Roger Bothwell on April 11, 2013

Spring of Life, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574

Rogerbothwell.org