In 1969 Elvis sang the song In the Ghetto for the first time. This song was about a boy who didn’t have a chance because it seemed his future was preordained. Because of his environment, he would face a prospect of living and dying in the street.

There was a boy whose birth is recorded in 1 Chronicles 4:9-10 whose life could have mimicked Presley’s song. His name was Jabez and his future didn’t look good. Then a prayer to God made all the difference.

1 Chronicles 4:9-10

Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, “I gave birth to him in pain.”  Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request.

This prayer was very short, but is one of the most powerful prayers in the Old Testament. Sincerity, not verbiage, is what moves the hand of God.

What are your prayers like?

Think about it.

Gary

In 1867, Russia sold the territory of Alaska to the U.S. for $7.2 million. A mere 50 years later, the Americans had earned that amount back 100 times over. Back then some had thought Secretary of State William Seward had taken us for a ride. It wasn’t that many years later, Americans were flocking to this desolate place because gold was discovered there.

Let’s bring that from their town to our town. How many journeying through this life disregard the Bible because they believe it contains nothing of value?

The Scripture uses gold to set forth the value of what the written word contains:

Proverbs 8:10

Receive my instruction, and not silver, And knowledge rather than choice gold;

Hebrews 11:6

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

The greatest transaction you will ever make is staking your soul on the truths of the Bible.

Think about it.

Gary

I was probably fifteen years old and lounging at my sister’s house.  Lying on the couch and holding my nephew out at arm’s length, I was playing airplane with him. He was the imaginary airplane. This five-month-old was very heavy for his age. (My sister must have really screamed when he came forth.) Anyway, with extended arms, I lowered him down too far behind the arm of the couch and didn’t have the strength to bring him back. What do I do? I’m too embarrassed to call for help. I thought, I’ll just hyperextend my body and get him as close to the floor as possible and let him complete the descent alone. It worked for me but was an insult to him. They probably heard him at Mother’s house a quarter-mile away. By the time my sister came in, he was back in my arms and I was trying to get him to be quiet.  She asked, “What happened?” I replied, “I don’t know; he just started crying.”

Thinking I was strong and being strong are two different things completely. People can sure be embarrassed and cause damage to others when they overestimate their abilities.

Hebrews 12:12

Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees,

2 Timothy 4:17

But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.

Always make sure you are up to the task.

Think about it

Gary

P.S. My nephew is doing fine but is a little overweight for a fifty-four-year-old.

I travel through Maine often and am always intrigued by new-home construction that is never finished. Sometimes it just seems like the project was totally abandoned.  What happened? Could it be a divorce, financial shortfall, or realization that it was built on someone else’s property?

It reminds me of a passage in Scripture:

Luke 14: 28-30

 For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it—  lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him,  saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’

The key to success is not just in a good start but in a good finish. The Apostle Paul described that principle as he sensed the nearness of the work of the executioner.

2 Timothy 4:7

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

How’s the building project going in your life?

Think about it.

Gary

One of my favorite preachers and writers of generations past was Vance Havner. He just had a way of bringing Scripture into everyday experiences. He was also a true wordsmith. Here is a quote about brokenness:

“God uses broken things. It takes broken soil to produce a crop, broken clouds to give rain, broken grain to give bread, broken bread to give strength. It is the broken alabaster box that gives forth perfume. It is Peter, weeping bitterly, who returns to greater power than ever.”
― Vance Havner

We all know of individuals who have suffered setbacks in life that seem to have improved their dispositions. Many are the examples of people in the New Testament that had their lives transformed because they came into contact with Christ.

Mark 5:15

Then they came to Jesus, and saw the one who had been demon-possessed and had the legion, sitting and clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid.

I’m sure glad I came into contact with Him. How about you?

Think about it.

Gary

I was a paramedic wading through the snow to this dilapidated apartment. Upon gaining entrance, we noticed the mother on the floor having just delivered a baby. The apartment was cold, being heated by the oven of a propane range. The cord was cut and the baby was wrapped in blankets. Both mother and child were transported by our ambulance to the nearest medical center. Thankfully, we were two paramedics on this call.

I can’t say if they all lived happily ever after because I never saw them again. It just amazes me the life-experiences that God has in store for us. I never want to experience that again, but the memory is a blessing to me personally.

For one thing, I was not alone facing that dilemma. I was thankful for the other paramedic and God’s wisdom:

Ecclesiastics 4:12

And one standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer; three is even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.

Don’t go into an unknown situation alone.

Think about it.

Gary

There are so many things we don’t remember from those early years in school. The thing that bothers me is the useless information we did retain.

He was a first-grader trying to read aloud to the class under the tutelage of the teacher. Sometimes he would come to a word and lock up so the teacher would say the word and he would repeat it. As this was in progress, a fly landed on his nose and the teacher said, “There is a fly on your nose.” He quickly repeated, “There is a fly on your nose.” Those of us following along as he read laughed and the others wondered what had happened.

That memory is meaningless unless I can use it in this devotional. Repeating what someone else says can lead to embarrassment:

1 John 4:1

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

Listen closely, and don’t repeat words unless you are convinced they are appropriate. Embarrassment might be a minor outcome when you consider the whole picture.

Think about it.

Gary