Romantic Faith
How can faith be romantic? The two words don’t often get put together – romance and faith. I think we tend to hear the word romance of relationships in blossom. So we speak of a friend who is in a romantic relationship. We even use the word in verbal formulations to talk of someone who is “romancing” or “being romanced.” On the other hand, faith seems to have connotations of either a religious experience (i.e., a life of faith) or an identifiable set of beliefs (i.e., the Christian faith as opposed to the Muslim or Buddhist faith). Maybe we should work to bring these terms into proximity. My personal opinion is that both would be blessed at the end of the process. Have you noticed how many people are declaring their rejection of religion nowadays? They point to tribal divisions, arrogance, and judgments passed not only by Christians against non-Christians but within the larger Christian camp. Maybe all this traces to the fact that we have turned a Jew’s teachings into those of a Greek and thereby confused faithfulness with a spirit of condemnation. The Greek view of reality, meaning, and truth demands rational explanation. So Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle set the agenda of defining and explaining things to the mind. The goal was to put explanations into claims that could be worded precisely, studied in minute detail, and debated for ever-increasing clarity. On that view, truth is static and inflexible, focuses on “essences” deemed more real than day-to-day experiences, and is often deemed cold and impersonal. The Hebrew idea is not necessarily hostile to definitions and the attempt to figure out how ideas and words correspond to the world we encounter. But it is more fundamentally about value, function, and relationship. Thus God himself is Truth. His words are “living and active” – dynamic, not static. God’s word ultimately became flesh in Jesus and is meant to be enfleshed by his followers. Thus truth is more a matter of right relationship with God and neighbor than definitions and dogma by which we judge each other – and sever relationships. Pilate’s “What is truth?” (John 18:38 NIV) was more a category mistake than anything else and better would have been cast as “Who is truth?” But he was a Greek-speaking, Greek-thinking Roman bureaucrat, not a son of Israel. God is truth. So the one who is simultaneously the Way, Life, and Truth was before him unrecognized. Being a Christ-follower is thus more a journey into unknown places, a process of ongoing transformation, or a romance than a seminary lecture. The time is long past due to allow faith to be a love affair rather than a war of words. The Word became flesh and lived among us … (John 1:14 NIV). About the author: Rubel Shelly preached for decades and served as a professor of medical ethics, Bible, and philosophy at multiple universities. He was a former president of Rochester College and Professor of Philosophy and Religion at Lipscomb University. He was the author of more than 30 books and hundreds of inspirational articles. His commitment to a non-sectarian presentation of the gospel touched countless lives.
Our Assurance of Reunion
Can you be sure you will see them again? I was just a little knotty-kneed bur-headed kid, stuck inside a hot Oklahoma white clapboard church building. People were crying and carrying on, especially my grandmother, whom we called Granny. The congregation sang a few ol’ toe-tapper songs of heaven and then when the preacher was done, we went out back and buried somebody that was one of my relatives. After a few words and a prayer at the graveside, we all hugged and went back to the church building. People set out food – lots of food, real good food like fried chicken, potato salad, and pie. Then everyone sat around in the shade and visited, drinking sweet iced tea and laughing at old jokes and enlarged tales of family members I never knew – many of whom my parents weren’t sure I should know. I remember this event as a happy time. I also remember it was the first time I ever played washers – kids like me and old guys, playing washers under the shade of the trees. I never doubted after that day why my Granny loved funerals and cemeteries. What about you? Are you like Granny? Do you love funerals? I’m not sure I can say I love them, but my view of them was forever changed by that life-altering event in early childhood … and one other event. I stood before the casket of my own father at 25, at a resting place just two exits up the highway from where I now preach. I read these words of comfort from the apostle Paul: And now, brothers and sisters, I want you to know what will happen to the Christians who have died so you will not be full of sorrow like people who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus comes, God will bring back with Jesus all the Christians who have died.I can tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not rise to meet him ahead of those who are in their graves. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the call of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, all the Christians who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and remain with him forever. So comfort and encourage each other with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) I’ve read those words more times than I can count since then. I’ve stood before over-sized caskets and tiny ones, boxes for great saints and ardent sinners, young and old, tragic deaths and grand ol’ saints relieved of suffering and going off to glory. I really do believe Paul’s promises. Every time I read those words, I think of the old white church building in Oklahoma and seeing interesting relatives. I remember toe-tapping to the beat of songs about heaven. I remember eating fried chicken, and chocolate pie. I remember the smell of freshly dug dirt and the clink of washers. I remember the raspy chuckles of great uncles and my G-daddy as they smoked under those trees and laughed with us as we played. Because of Jesus – because of our faith in him, because we were buried and raised with him – funerals now remind me of our promised reunion with loved ones we haven’t seen a long time and reunion with relatives we’ve never known except through stories! Jesus is coming for us so we can have reunion! But don’t trust my word for it, look what Paul gives us as the reasons for this future: Vs. 14 – our faith in Jesus’ death and resurrection Vs. 14 – those who die in Jesus (those who are “asleep in him”) will never have their relationship with him severed Vs. 15 – the Lord’s own word Now look at the end of this little passage of graveside encouragement. Notice that Paul gives us two promises … two certainties … two truths that give us the assurance of reunion! We’ll meet Him and them in the air We will be with Him, together, forever We are a Sunday people – each week brings us the reminder of the Lord’s resurrection! Because of that resurrection, we have the assurance that our resurrection lies ahead. Because of the Lord’s resurrection, we have the gift of the Spirit. Because of the Lord’s resurrection, we have each other … forever. Jesus’ resurrection is our assurance of reunion. Better, more glorious, and more fun than that clapboard church picnic beside the cemetery, our future is secured and our party is planned. Reunion awaits … and if you will listen, you can hear the clink of washers, smell the fried chicken, and tap your toes to the distant sound of the songs of future glory. About the author: Phil Ware has authored 11 years of daily devotionals, including VerseoftheDay.com, read by 500,000 people a day. He works with churches in transition with Interim Ministry Partners and for the past 21+ years, he has been editor and president of HEARTLIGHT Magazine, author of VerseoftheDay.com, God’s Holy Fire (on the Holy Spirit), and aYearwithJesus.com. Phil has also authored four books, daily devotionals on each of the four gospels.
Sheep and Cats
Can cats go astray? You will find a lot of discussion in the Bible about sheep and goats, but there just doesn’t seem to be a good passage on sheep and cats. For that, and other good reasons we will just have to do without an opening text for this discussion. The Word of God was wise when it chose sheep as a type of lost man. Sheep are such simple animals. When you find a lost sheep it looks lost. It knows it’s lost. You know it’s lost. There is just a simple openness and helplessness about lost sheep. So when God says in Isaiah 53, “All we like sheep have gone astray …” it isn’t really hard to relate the picture to lost man. On the other hand, if He had said, “All we like cats have gone astray …” we would have a totally different problem. Cats just don’t like to think of themselves as strays. They never seem to be able to admit that they have made a mistake. There is a certain air of pride about a cat that sheep just don’t have. The cat may know that he is lost but he is not going to let you know that he is. Cats seem to always be saying, “I know who I am and what I am doing, and it is just exactly what I intended.” He can fall in the pond, nearly drown, and barely make the bank alive, but he will crawl out, look you square in the eyes and say, “I meant to do that.” Sometimes I wonder if we aren’t more like cats than sheep. We seen to do such dumb things and then our pride makes us say, “I meant to do that.” I pray that we will not really turn out to be that way. I hope that we will realize that we are in fact sheep that have gone astray. After all, the Savior is a finder of lost sheep, not an admirer of proud cats! Once you were wandering like lost sheep. But now you have turned to your Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls. (1 Peter 2:25) About the author: Bill is a long time minister in Nacogdoches, Texas who loves world missions. His passion for ministry has led him all over the world. In addition to his work as a minister, he is also a licensed professional counselor. Bill’s family is also involved in ministry and service to the world and community.
Today’s Verse – Romans 13:9-10
The commandments, “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,” and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. —Romans 13:9-10 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Wouldn’t it be great if we didn’t have to have laws to keep people in line! That’s the point behind Paul’s message here. Treat our neighbors as we would like to be treated. Love them as we want to be loved. If we do that, then we’re not going to do anything that would hurt them, much less violate a command of God’s law that would hurt them. My Prayer… Loving Father, you are God who gave Moses the Law on tablets of stone. Please write your character and will on my heart (Proverbs 3:3; Jeremiah 31:33) that I might be a living testimony of your righteousness and grace toward all people. Help me to think more carefully about how my neighbors feel and what they need before I act or react to them – not just today, but every day! In the name of your Son, Jesus. Amen. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.
Finding Contagious Joy
How can we move from contingent joy through courageous joy to contagious joy? Everyone is looking for joy. Marketing companies know this. Every commercial promises the same product: joy. Want some joy? Buy our hand cream. Want some joy? Sleep on this mattress. Want some joy? Eat at this restaurant, drive this car, wear this dress. Every commercial portrays the image of a joy-filled person. Even Preparation H. Before using the product, the guy frowns and squirms in his chair. Afterwards, he is the image of joy. Joy. Everyone wants it. Everyone promises it. But can anyone deliver it? It might surprise you to know that joy is a big topic in the Bible. Simply put: God wants his children to be joy-filled. Just like a father wants his baby to laugh with glee, God longs for us to experience a deep-seated, deeply rooted joy. The joy offered by God joy is different than the one promised at the car dealership or shopping mall. God is not interested in putting a temporary smile on your face. He wants to deposit a resilient hope in your heart. He has no interest in giving you a shallow happiness that melts in the heat of adversity. But he does offer you a joy: a deep-seated, heart-felt, honest-to-goodness, ballistic strong sense of joy that can weather the most difficult of storms. Peter referred to this joy in the opening words of his epistle: Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls (I Peter 1:8-9 ). Who was Peter addressing when he spoke of unspeakable joy? He was speaking “To God’s chosen people who are away from their homes and are scattered all around the countries of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia” (1 Peter 1:1 NCV). Peter was speaking to persecuted Christians – people who had been driven from their cities, separated from their families. Their rights had been taken. Their property had been taken. Their possessions had been taken. Their futures had been taken, but their joy had not been taken. Why? Go back to Peter’s Epistle again – this time in another translation: Although you haven’t seen Jesus, you still love Him. Although you don’t yet see Him, you do believe in Him… (1 Peter 1:8 The Voice). The source of their joy? Jesus! And since no one could take their Jesus, no one could take their joy. What about you? What has been taken from you? Your health? Your house? Have you buried a dream? Have you buried a marriage? Buried a friend? As you look at these burial plots of life, is your joy buried there, too? If so, you may have substituted courageous joy for contingent joy. Contingent joy is always dependent upon a circumstance. Contingent joy says I’ll be happy when… or I’ll be happy if… I’ll be happy when I have a new house or a new spouse. I’ll be happy when I’m healed or when I’m home. Contingent joy depends upon the right circumstance. Since we cannot control every circumstance, we set ourselves up for disappointment. Envision the person who buys into the lie of contingent joy. As a young person they assume, if I get a car, I’ll be happy. They get the car, but the car wears out. They look for joy elsewhere. If I get married, I’ll be happy. So they get married, then disappointed. The spouse cannot deliver. This ritual goes on through a series of attempts. If I get the new job… if I can retire… If we just had a baby. In each case, joy comes, then diminishes. By the time this person reaches old age, he has ridden a roller coaster of hope and disappointment. He or she becomes sour and fearful. Contingent joy turns us into wounded people. Courageous joy, however, turns us into strong people. Courageous joy sets the hope of the heart on Jesus and Jesus alone. Since no one can take your Christ, no one can take your joy. Think about it. Can death take your joy? No, because Jesus is greater than death. Can failure take your joy? No, because Jesus is greater than your sin. Can betrayal take your joy? No, because Jesus will never leave you. Can sickness take your joy? No, because God has promised – whether on this side of the grave or the other – to heal you. Can disappointment take your joy? No, because though your plan may not work out, you know God’s plan will. Death, failure, betrayal, sickness, disappointment. They cannot take your joy because they cannot take your Jesus. And Jesus promised, “[N]o one will take away your joy” (John 16:22). Is that to say your life will be storm-free? Is that to say no sorrows will come your way? No. Jesus reminds us of the truth: In this world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world (John 16:33). Is that to say you will never cross the drylands of sorrow? No. But that is to say your sorrow will not last forever! Jesus promises us: You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy (John 16:20). Years ago, I lived on a houseboat that was docked on the Miami River. The level of the river would rise and fall with the tide. The boat rocked back and forth with the river traffic. But though the level changed and the boat rocked, we never drifted. Why? Because we were anchored to a concrete sea wall. Courageously joyful people have done the same. They have anchored their hearts to the shoreline of God. Will the boat rock? Yes. Will moods come and go? No doubt. But will they be left adrift on the Atlantic of despair? No, for they
Listen to Your Teacher
Have you been listening lately? Vann and I had come in early for a pre-office hours meeting. We were both exhausted from a busy weekend and not really in a place to emotionally be very valuable to each other, but we were there anyway. We both admitted that we were too tired to be ready to do much productive thinking. Then Sam came in to say, “Hi.” Sam is the precious son of another person on our staff. His dad comes in early to start his work, then runs Sam to school. Sam came in and visited with us a minute and lifted our spirits. Vann and I both told Sam we were a little bit grumpy and asked him what we needed to do to be nice to the people we would meet that morning. Sam smiled sweetly, and replied very matter-of-factly, “Listen to your teacher.” Vann and I made eye contact and both had that expression on our faces that said that we had gotten the God-sent message from our little prophet. “Listen to your teacher.” In the rush of ministry, of life’s demands, of paying bills, of taking care of families, of pursuing goals, of fulfilling commitments, and a host of other demands, this is the ultimate reminder of what is important. We can get so caught up in doing our “Jesus stuff” that we lose track of Jesus’ voice in our own lives. We can forget why we do what we do. We can forget how we should treat people. We can get so self-absorbed or goal-absorbed or schedule-absorbed that we forget that we are to be Jesus to the people we meet each day. And to be Jesus to the people we meet each day, we’ve got to listen to our Teacher! A student is not better than his teacher. But when the student has fully learned, then he will be like his teacher. (Luke 6:40 ERV) About the author: Phil Ware has authored 11 years of daily devotionals, including VerseoftheDay.com, read by 500,000 people a day. He works with churches in transition with Interim Ministry Partners and for the past 21+ years, he has been editor and president of HEARTLIGHT Magazine, author of VerseoftheDay.com, God’s Holy Fire (on the Holy Spirit), and aYearwithJesus.com. Phil has also authored four books, daily devotionals on each of the four gospels.
Daily Prayer for February 21
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. Ephesians 5:25-27, NIV Lord our God, remember us even though we are only a few. Protect us from all evil, from all inner harm, which threatens us every day. Let your hand be over us so that at last a great power may stream out from your church into all the world, bringing the fulfillment of your promises. We thank you for all your goodness. Watch over us, we pray. Keep us in the right spirit and purpose, and help us resist all that is wrong and harmful. Grant that we serve you and not the world. Protect us this day and every day. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Temptations in the Wilderness Christopher Snook On the first Sunday of Lent, we remember how the devil tempted Christ, and how Christ foiled him. Read now Unwelcome Pruning Norann Voll Lenten lessons from a crop of grapes ruined by Australian wildfires. Read now Bake and Pray Kendall Vanderslice Discover the messy beauty of rolling up your sleeves and making bread – recipe included! Read now The Flaming Heart of Danko Maxim Gorky In this Russian legend, a young man sacrifices his life to save his people. Read now Not All Right Tish Harrison Warren I heard the girl kneeling next to me whisper to her mom: “Does my ash look all right?” Read now
Today’s Verse – Proverbs 17:9
He who covers over an offense promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends. —Proverbs 17:9 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… You’ve probably heard this poisonous statement many times: “It’s just a little harmless gossip.” The Wise Teacher reminds us that gossip is neither little nor harmless. Sharing someone else’s stumble, offense, failure, or flaws separates friends and causes horrible damage. The consequences of such gossip are severe, and its damage is often lasting and devastating, especially to relationships. Instead, it is much better to be a peacemaker and an offense-mender, someone who covers over an offense with grace, forgiveness, and love. As Jesus said: Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God (Matthew 5:9). A peacemaker is one who covers over an offense and promotes love and peace. Let that be said of us! Video Commentary… ToGather Worship Guide | More ToGather Videos My Prayer… Father of Glory, I confess that I am often more a peace lover than a peacemaker. Being a peacemaker seems to be a lot harder for me. Covering over offenses feels a lot more difficult than passing on the gossip about an offense. So, please give me the character not to repeat gossip, but instead to have the wisdom and strength to be an offense-mender and an offense-coverer. Through the Prince of Peace, himself, I pray. Amen. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.
20 Feb 2026
We are fortunate to live in the dispensation of grace. Christ came, lived here and died for our sins. That dies not give us the license to lead lawless lives. May His life model how we ought to live, in this world but not according to its values. We cannot do this without His help. Philippians 1:3-11.
Today’s Verse – 1 John 4:11-12
Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. —1 John 4:11-12 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Can you imagine what an honor it is to have the Creator of the universe, the LORD God Almighty, living inside of you? Yet when we love each other, that is exactly what happens. When our hearts are full of love, there is room for God, a great deal of room for God, because God is love. When they are not full of love, we leave little room for God to take up residence and produce his character in us. Let God complete his love in you: commit to doing loving things for others today, and each day that follows, until you can express your love for your Father, face-to-face in glory! My Prayer… Abba Father, I find it so comforting to know that you are not far away – that I live in you and you live in me (Colossians 3:1-4). Please help me see others with your eyes and respond to their needs with your heart so that your love may be complete in me and demonstrated in my actions. In the name of Jesus, the Servant and Savior of all, I pray. Amen. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.