My Devotional Writings

Where’s the Remote?

August 27, 2008

TV remotes sure are a useful tool. They control the TV as long as the remote is in range and it isn’t hindered. However, sometimes, we lose track of the remote and we are left having to control the TV manually. We constantly have to get out of our seats and adjust the volume, change the channel, and eventually turn the TV off. The remote controls the TV.

In a recent Adam Sandler movie, Click, life itself has a remote control. However, when Adam Sandler’s character begins to control his life the way he wants to, he learns a valuable lesson, and that life is better left without our control. The movie also hints at a being which is in control. I would say that this is true, and that the one who is in control is God.

Firstly, those who believe the Bible to be true should also believe that God is the creator of the world. We find this in Genesis 1 and 2. If God is the creator, then obviously He would have the right to control his creation, or to establish rules that we should set as controls. Additionally, the Bible also claims that God is the one in control in a more straightforward manner through prophecies that come true, the intervention of God in the events of the world, and even some passages that more or less tell us God is in control of our lives.

In the Book of Job, one scene from the book tells how God came to Job and made it crystal clear to Job that He made the mighty things of the world, He controls the things we know nothing about, He even the things beyond this world that can impact our lives. This is a sovereign God who is certainly the one in control. David, the great King of Israel, also testifies to God’s sovereignty in Psalm 103.

Now think for a moment about how God is the one who controls our world. It doesn’t take long to find examples of an out of control world. Russia recently invaded the country of Georgia and very few good reasons for this aggression can be found. Many Muslim countries allow their Muslim citizens to harass and kill Christians without any kind of justice shown to these Christians who suffer. Abortion kills unborn children who have not even had a chance to harm anyone, but many people cannot fathom putting a convicted murderer to death. This world in many ways just doesn’t make much sense. I wonder how different this would be if the people who live in it would find the true controller, God himself. Unlike a remote, he won’t show us programs we want, God will lead us to the lives we are called to live.

The Truth found in this writing was provided by God’s Word.

Written by Timothy Hegerich / Edited by DR. Vicki Hill
 
The Eight Letter Word

September 1st, 2008

When I was a good bit younger, I was taught a few lessons that stuck with me concerning a particular eight letter word. That word is patience. One thing I was told is that patience is an eight letter word, which makes it twice as bad as a four letter word. The other thing I was told is to never pray for patience. If you pray for patience, you were more than likely going to face some kind of trial that could be lengthy and would probably be no fun to go through.

As I’ve gotten older, I’ve learned how these ideas are not necessarily true. Obviously, if you count the letters in the word patience, you can see it has eight letters in it. However, if we come to learn real patience, it can be one of our greatest treasures in life. True patience allows us to be calm in really rough times. True patience also helps us to mature into rational people who are not easily stirred by passing trends in our cultures and society. Patience may be a trait that is hard to learn, but it is certainly not a bad thing.

In Psalm 37 one verse adds some perspective on the word patience in sight of a Christian life.

“Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!†(Psalm 37:7 ESV)

You see, for a Christian true patience is required to truly live for God. We know through scripture and hopefully through our life’s experiences that God is a God who will act and be faithful to his people. Knowing this, if we allow ourselves to learn patience, we will be able to be calm even against those who would work against us.

Do you remember that second thing I was taught? I was told not to pray for patience. Besides the fact that scripture clearly seeks it for those who call themselves Christians, this passage also shows us that when we are patient we can face the trials of evil and rough times because we will have learned to wait for the Lord to act.

Psalm 37:5 gives us this reminder before it even mentions our need for patience.

“Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act.†(Psalm 37:5)

Now that’s some great news! All we have to do as Christians is trust God to act and commit to letting him act as his word claims he will. Yes, it may not be right away, and that may be tough and tiring, but it’s better than letting our exhaustion lead us into times that are even worse because we compound the trial with our own sin.

This eight letter word, patience, is not a word that suggests much fun, because we all know, patience usually means we aren’t getting things our way and we aren’t having fun. However, patience is a remarkable tool for living true life. Caroline and I have been learning this day after day lately, and I can say, the more patient I become, the easier living those tough days gets. Will you commit yourself to the Lord and trust him to act? If so, then perhaps you are ready to let patience be a good eight letter word.

The Truth found in this writing was provided by God's word.

Written by Timothy Hegerich / Edited by Dr. Vicki Hill
 
A Look at Life – An Introduction

I’ve been writing these devotional tidbits for a few years now. I’ve covered things from true love to true devotion to God, things from involvement in your church to what it means to serve God. However, I’ve never really addressed something which is an underlying basic truth to living for God, and that is recognizing God’s role in our life. Not just the idea that He should be our inspiration for service to His kingdom, but the foundational principles regarding just how God is in control of life.

You see, if we don’t understand or truly grasp God’s control over life and what that means for our individual lives, we will never reach the world for God in the ways he intends us to. After all, how can we encourage others to find true life in Christ, if we cannot tell them just how a life in God is supposed to look? How can they live for God if they don’t know all God has done for them?

My next four devotional writings will be in part my “A Look at Life†series, posting the first devotional around Friday Sept. 12th. I hope you will keep up with my writing as I think these next few devotionals will encourage you greatly and perhaps refresh a bit of your relationship with God. In the very least, I pray these devotionals will help you look at life in the ways God intends for us to.

Blessings,
Timothy
 
A Look at Life-Part 2

The Creator of Life

September 12, 2008

One question which many people love to ask is where did life come from? We know that individual people are the offspring of their parents, but who were the first parents, who made them? Mankind is so curious about its origins that it has created many theories as equally unproven as the next that are accepted regardless of significant proof. However, there is one idea which is older than them all, and doesn’t rely on inconclusive studies, but a simple choice of faith. This is the idea that God created the world and life itself.

This particular devotional is not going to discuss why we should believe the Bible’s account of God’s creation. The reason for this is that unless a person is open to the idea of an all powerful God, any idea that keeps a “God†out of the picture is better than an “ancient book which can’t be trusted.†However, as this devotional series is attempting to look at a life and how to live it as a Christian, it is important to decide for yourself which of the following paths is for you. There are only two choices, either God created life, or God did not create life. So let’s see how each path affects a life in Christ.

God Created Life:

In Genesis 1:1, the Bible starts to teach of how God created the heavens and the earth. Then throughout Genesis 1 the writer of the book tells of how God continued creating all that is on the earth until Genesis 1:26 where God decides to make one of His final creations, Man.

“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.†Genesis 1:27 (ESV)

God’s word states that God is the creator of life. For a Christian who believes in God’s son, Jesus the Christ, as their savior, it is much easier to accept God’s gift if we are already willing to accept that the rest of the Bible is true, including this account from Genesis 1. Accepting that God created life also allows a Christian to accept that God can save our life if He chooses, which is why a Christian believes God sent Christ. You see, it’s hard to accept Christ and not accept that the one who gave Him the power to save us is also the one who made us in the first place.

God Did Not Create Life:

Well, first off, if God did not create life then it is only logical for a human to ask what else is not true about God. If God did not create life, how does He have the authority to save lives through his son, Jesus? Most of all, if God did not create life, why does He have the power to tell a human what is right and what is wrong?

To believe in Christ and not believe in God as the creator makes no sense. God would only have the authority to tell us what sin is if He had made us to begin with. It’s just like parents only have the right to discipline their child because they have authority over it. If God did not create life, then He has no right to declare anything sin, and then we have no need to be saved from a life filled by it. What good is it then to believe that Christ saved you from your sins if you did not need to be saved to begin with?

Think About This:

Christianity becomes pointless if we do not accept that God is the creator. If you are a Christian and you struggle to believe how God has created life, then there is little doubt that you struggle with your faith as well. For the life of a Christian to have the meaning we all seek, it starts by accepting that God created life, yes even your life, and that He is in control of it. You can decide what to believe, but if you believe God didn’t create life, it’s only a matter of time before you also find yourself believing you don’t need Christ as well.

Written by Timothy Hegerich / Edited by Vicki Hill

The truth found in this writing can be found in God’s Word.
 
A Look at Life – Part 3

The Problem of Life

September 18th, 2008

Last week we spent a little time looking at what it means for a Christian to recognize God as the creator of life. We saw that if God is not the creator of life, He then has no right to tell what is and is not right. If God does not have that authority, then bad choices alone cannot condemn us, and therefore there is no need to be saved from them. If we cannot be condemned by our wrong choices, our sins, then there would be no need for a savior, and Jesus would have really been an ordinary man. For a Christian, if this is true, then there is no need to live as Christ tells us to.

However, a true Christian accepts that God is the creator of the world, and therefore He can call something good or something else bad. In fact, in Genesis 2, the Bible records God doing just that. In Genesis 2:15-17 we read:

15The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. 16And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, "You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, 17but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die." Genesis 2:15-17 (ESV)

God has now put a condition on the lives of His creations. They can eat without consequence of any tree in the garden He had created except for one, the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. God has also told his creations that if they do not obey, they will die as their consequence. Sure enough, in Genesis 3, Eve and then Adam both eat from this tree after a little tempting from a serpent. Here’s how God responds to the actions of each person and the serpent.

14The LORD God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. 15I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel."

16To the woman he said, "I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you."

17And to Adam he said, "Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, 'You shall not eat of it,' cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; 18thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. 19By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return." Genesis 3:14-19 (ESV)

It isn’t until verse 19 that God reminds them of their ultimate consequence, death. God had already determined that disobedience to His instructions would be punished by death. Eventually Adam and Eve and all of their offspring will face death, including us. You see, Romans 3:23 reminds us that all have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. Just as was the case with Adam and Eve, even one sin makes our life terminal because of the consequences of sin.

Life would be carefree if we’d simply learn to obey God. However, by the time we, mankind, have learned not to disobey God, we have already sinned enough to merit the consequence of death. Life without death is something we all desire, but since we are all marked by the consequences of sin, we all will die. So, for us to live eternally, as we all desire, we must first get rid of the problem of sin. However, what can men do to solve this problem?

The truth found in this writing was provided by God’s Word.

Written by Timothy Hegerich
 
A Look at Life – Part 4

Before getting into this week’s writing, I wanted to apologize for missing a week and not writing last week. I am still settling into my new job and I am still learning how best to manage my time. I will try to give a heads up when there will not be a devotional in the future.

The Solution to Life

October 2nd, 2008

In my last writing, I wrote about how all mankind is trapped by the problem of sin. Life would be completely different if we did not need to live with the expectation of facing sin’s consequence, death. However, sin is such a powerful problem that even sinning one time is enough to merit the punishment of death. You may never see a statistic suggesting the leading cause of death is lying or stealing, but the truth is, we are all going to die, and sin is the reason why.

Now, what if there was a solution to the problem of sin? What if there was some way to cheat death? Would you want to know about it? Well, if you are a Christian than there is one, just one, solution to the problem of sin. That solution is found in the person, Jesus Christ.

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6, NIV)

According to what is written in the Bible in John 14:6, Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. Jesus claims that in Him alone can one find the path to heaven. That is to say no one can come to the Father, or where the Father dwells. The Bible also teaches that there is no dying in heaven. So if Jesus can show us the way to heaven, and in heaven there is no death, then it must be that Jesus alone holds the solution to life’s problem of sin.

The big question from this point becomes, how can we find this never ending life in Christ? If
Jesus holds the solution, just how can we share in partaking of this solution to sin and death? If you truly want to learn the answer, then come and find my devotionals next week, and we’ll see just how Jesus is the savior of life.

The truth found in this writing was provided by God’s word.

Written by Timothy Hegerich/ Edited by Vicki Hill
 
A Look at Life – Part 5

Some may be wondering what happened to my devotionals or my blogs. I missed writing one week as I was still settling into my new job. Last week I wrote a devotional but I didn’t feel it was ready to be published, so I held it back. So, after a few weeks of absence, I hope you all will forgive me and continue to seek my devotional blogs.

The Savior of Life!

October 9th, 2008

In my last week’s writing I introduced the idea that in Jesus, and Jesus alone, we can find the solution to life’s problem of sin and its punishment death. I sited John 14:6, a passage in which Jesus claims to be the Way, the Truth, and the Life. I want to look at this passage a bit more.

In my previous writing, I suggested how Jesus is the way to heaven and that in heaven we can have life. However, I did not really cover how. In the passage from John 14, Jesus calls himself the Life. What does he mean when He says, “He is the Life?â€Â

Well, in John 3:16, a verse just about anyone who regularly attends church knows, and the verse that directly follows it, Jesus says this:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. (John 3:16-17, ESV)

This passage shows that Christ taught that belief in him would save the people of this world from condemnation, from our sins, and then the passage declares that through believing in Him, we might have life. You see, Jesus knew that all who sinned were condemned to death by His father, God. However, God himself had long since promised that He would send one who would be a blessing to the nations.

We know from the Old Testament that God required sacrifices for the atonement of the sins of his people. If they were to be seen as cleansed, they were required to make these sacrifices. However, these sacrifices were just a symbol of what was to come.

We know from reading the New Testament that Jesus was a source of life. He is that source because He was blameless until death, and thus as a human, far better than any animal, He sacrificed himself on the cross to atone for the Sins of all Humanity. The only stipulation we seem to find in any of scripture for this atonement from sin is that we believe in Christ as God’s son, and that we believe we are accountable for our sins before God, but that Christ, His son, took that punishment for us.

Romans 6:23 teaches this:

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23, ESV)

You see, God made it clear that our life as it is, these sinful lives we live were condemned to die. However, He has allowed that anyone who believes in his son as a saving atoning sacrifice as their one and only path to life, and that if they take responsibility for their sins which eventually led to the life of Christ being taken from Him, then we can claim the eternal life Christ was due, and share in this eternal life.

The problem of life is sin, and the only solution to life is to be granted a new life. In Christ, we are saved from the problem of sin, as through His death, He allows us, sinners, to share in His new life and live free from the problem of sin forever! Jesus is the Savior of these sinful lives we live, and as John 3:16 teaches, all we must do is believe in him, and we begin the process of new life! That is what makes Jesus the savior of Life!

The truth found in this writing was provided by God’s word.

Written by Timothy Hegerich / Edited by Vicki Hill
 
Sometimes I do not get anything from God about what to write about. Sometimes there is no inspiration for anything but the needs of my life and the lives of those around me. These are the times I just need to pray, and this time in particular, God has inspired me to pray and write it down for anyone who would read it. So here it is.

A Prayer…

First Date Voiced: October 24th, 2008

Written down by Timothy Hegerich

Dear Heavenly Father,

Lord, you are truly an awesome and Mighty God. You do not tremble when storms threaten our shores or homes. You do not worry when finances are sketchy and those who call themselves your own fail you. You are the source of hope and strength to all who call you Lord, and it is you alone who can help us when we need help the most.

God, I pray that as the time of your returning draws nearer than ever before, that you would raise up a new generation of saints and servants who are fearless when trials threaten their lives. God, your people have become complacent and too meek even when your honor and your name are tossed about. God, I ask that you raise up servants, if you would raise up even me, to serve you as faithfully as your first apostles once did.

Lord, there are so many areas of our world that need leaders who love you and desire your will in the world. Raise up leaders who listen to your voice and know your words when they are spoken or read. Teach us how we may live in ways which are worthy of the name of your son, The Christ. Give us a renewed passion for your glory each day and do not allow us to be comforted when your name sake is brought to question.

Stir your people towards you until you return, Lord

I ask this in your Son’s name, Jesus, Amen.
 
Thanks for the Encouragement. If I remember correctly you like to do this kind of writing too?
 
Yes, but I am pretty new to it. Most of my writings like this are on myspace, livejournal, and xanga.
 
I post my writings all over as well. I have a freewebs, xanga, myspace, blogspot, and a few other spots on the web. I recently started posting them for my college website.
 
I know it’s been a while since I’ve sat and written anything for my readers, but I suppose I have been absent long enough. I hope those who read these still find them as challenging and as encouraging as they have before.

Are you weaned?

Dec 7th, 2008

Recently my housemate got a 6 week old puppy. He had previously had this pup’s momma while she was pregnant, but due to his work schedule he had to send her to a friend’s home to be taken care of properly. When he brought back the puppy and his momma, who was now going to be going to another home, he thought the puppy had been weaned. However, if you left the pup alone with momma for too long, this little girl would be right back to suckling on momma for some milk.

Now, the concept of being a well fed Christian is a topic that many address in many different ways. There is a passage, however, that most teachers will use when addressing the growth and feeding of a Christian, and that passage is Hebrews 5:12-14

“12For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, 13for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. 14But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.†Hebrew 5:12-14 ESV

The writer of the book of Hebrews is pointing out that the audience he is speaking to is lacking in their maturity. They should have been weaned by now from the milk of their faith and have progressed onward into swallowing the deeper things in Christianity. What may be surprising to know is how much has changed in the last 2000 years or so?

Take a look at your walk with God. Would you be able to really explain your faith to someone who asked, or would you only know that Jesus claimed to be the only way? Sure, the milk in Christianity is a start, but what has happened to progressing onward toward solid food?

Are you a weaned Christian ready to progress steadily in your faith, or are you still suckling on the basics and calling that good enough? If a puppy is not eventually weaned, then the puppy will starve when its mother is no longer able to produce milk. Likewise, if your faith is not well fed, what will happen to it when the milk no longer sustains your faith? Sure, the source of the milk will not run dry, but will you really be able to live on just milk?

Written by Timothy Hegerich / Edited by Vicki Hill

The truth found in this writing was provided by God’s Word.
 
Serving Two Masters: An Example from Christmas

In the book of Matthew we find this verse:

“No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.†Matthew 6:24 (NIV)

During the Christmas season it is not uncommon at all to see a church hold a Christmas celebration for the children that attend that church. However, many churches make sure that a certain character visits this event and it’s not who you would think. The mysterious guest is often times a man with a white beard and a red suit, the man we recognize as Santa Claus.

Think for a moment. Christians are usually the first ones to point out that “Jesus is the reason for the season.†However, some of these very same Christians have no problem allowing the marketing genius we know as Santa Claus to visit with their children and give them a gift. However, the Christmas season is about God sending the world a gift, the gift of Jesus Christ.

The question is, then, who are we really teaching our children to adore? Sure, God sent the world a wonderful person, but Santa gives out presents. Think about young children you know; which do you think will excite them more?

This passage also brings to mind that we cannot serve both God and money. Look at it this way, Santa makes a child Happy by bringing him a toy which costs money. God gives the child the chance at salvation. If the child does not know what salvation is or what it is truly worth, why would he recognize Jesus over Santa?

Jesus taught we can only serve one master. Think about a child you know. If he had to choose a master right now, who would he choose? Perhaps the church needs to help children out and make it clear that Santa Claus, at least the fictional portrayal of him, is a person who does not need to be in churches.

The truths found in this writing were provided by the word of God.

Written by Timothy Hegerich / Edited by Vicki Hill
 
Clean and Renewed
Written Wednesday, January 14th, 2009

As some of you may very well realize, this is my first devotional writing of 2009. This particular writing is less devotional and more of just something I’m putting together to just share something you may wish to do as well.

Tonight, as Caroline and I were attending a church’s Wednesday night activities, a familiar verse from Psalm 51 was mentioned, which reads:

“10Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.†Psalm 51:10 (KJV)

Recently I began reading through a daily devotional book which contains several tidbits from the writings of John Wesley. This book is compiled around this very idea from Psalm 51 in that each devotional is set to inspire the reader to desire a renewed spirit with God.

As a new year begins, many people often seek to find a way to start something afresh, clean and unblemished that they could not accomplish the year before. This year, one thing I personally wish to strive for is a renewed fellowship with my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. This is a good thing, as many know that it is very trying to stand firm in our faith if we do not consistently renew ourselves in our faith.

As I go through this devotional series, which is geared to last the entire year, I will occasionally write devotionals based completely in this idea of renewing our hearts and relationships with God. I hope that perhaps you too will look to be renewed in your walk in our faith.

Written by Timothy Hegerich
 
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