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KEITH MADISON'S DEVOTIONAL
January 19, 2010
Competition and Composure
When I was a very small boy, my father would listen to the University of Kentucky basketball games on the radio. So, like many Kentucky boys growing up, I wanted to play basketball for the Wildcats. God had a good and different plan for me...
My baseball skills exceeded my hoop skills; and eventually, I became the head baseball coach in the athletic program that I loved. Even though I spent 25 years on the baseball field, I have remained a huge Wildcat basketball fan. Currently, "we" are the only undefeated team in the nation with three freshmen in the lineup!
One of our talented freshmen plays the game with passion and he is a powerful force on the court. He sometimes loses his temper; and, recently, he has been "baited" by older and more experienced players. They push and shove him and occasionally throw an elbow in his rib cage when the referees aren’t looking. Our big freshman center is trying to learn not to lose his temper and react to the strategic attacking of his weakness.
How do you react when people push the button that causes you to react or defend yourself with angry, caustic words and actions? I must admit, my pride sometimes causes me to lash out at things people say or may write about me. When the "rumor mill" finds its way to me, I want to emphatically set the record straight. How did Jesus respond to false charges? Isaiah prophesied how Jesus would react. "He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open His mouth; He was led like a Lamb to the slaughter; and as a sheep before his shearer is silent, so He did not open His mouth. (Isaiah 53:7)
As followers of Christ, we should strive to be more like Him…courageously knowing that "If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31)
James gave us great counsel in his book of wisdom; "Be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry" (James 1:19)
Great advice for a freshman basketball player and great advice for me and you!
January 2010
Stay the Course
Many times in the world of business and athletics, we see "successful" people take short cuts, bend and even break rules on their way to profit or victory. But, aren’t the financial awards and victories achieved by cheating, abuse of power and selfish motives shallow and hollow in the end? What King David said in Psalm 37 is still true today.
1 Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong; 2 for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away. 3 Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. 4 Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: 6 He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. 7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. 8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil. 9 For evil men will be cut off, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.
My challenge and encouragement to you for 2010 and beyond is this…stay the course, fight the good fight and commit to pleasing God with your words, actions and deeds. Treat your co-workers, teammates, family and even the competition justly and fairly. Then, "God will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun." (Psalm 37:6)
December 2009
The Gift of Compassion
Few of us would disagree that the Christmas season has become too commercial, too stressful and too long. But, perhaps, if we focus on the right gift we could eliminate the commercialism and the stress and keep the joy all year long.
To illustrate, we all need to look at a parable not usually associated with Christmas--the Parable of the Good Samaritan. We know that thieves robbed and beat a man on the road between Jerusalem and Jericho, leaving him naked and close to death. We also know that a priest and a Levite not only didn’t help this severely injured traveler but passed on the other side of the road to avoid him. But then came the Samaritan. The Samaritan "came to where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him." (Luke 10:33-34) The Samaritan even gave the innkeeper money to look after the injured man.
While discussing this parable in our Sunday school class recently, classmate Roy Lauter shared this: "The thief said, ‘What is yours is mine and I’m going to take it.’ The priest and the Levite said, ‘What is mine is mine and I’m going to keep it!’ The Samaritan said, ‘What is mine is yours and I’m going to give it.’”
Many of us may not be able to purchase expensive gifts for friends and family this Christmas, but we can all give the gift of compassion. Johnny Hunt once said, "You are never more like Christ than when you give."
November 2009
"Don’t walk in front of me, I may not follow. Don’t walk behind me, I may not lead. Just walk beside me and be my friend." Albert Carnus
In the very last chapter of John ’s magnificent Gospel, there is a simple illustration of the love Jesus has for us and His willingness to be our "friend."
After the resurrection, Jesus began appearing to His disciples. After His betrayal, arrest and journey to the cross, all but one of His disciples had abandoned and denied knowing Jesus. So, it makes sense that this group of men, the disciples, would feel lost, guilty and distant from Jesus.
John tells the story better than I ever could, after all he was there! So, read this short account of a very interesting fishing trip: (John 21:4-14)
4 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.
5 He called out to them, "Friends haven't you any fish?" "No," they answered.
6 He said, "Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some." When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.
7 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, "It is the Lord," he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water.
8 The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards.
9 When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.
10 Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish you have just caught."
11 Simon Peter climbed aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn.
12 Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." None of the disciples dared ask him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord.
13 Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14 This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.
Consider this: only a few days after the disciples scattered like a covey of quail at a time when Jesus needed them most, Jesus shows up on the shore where they were fishing. He didn’t come to preach to them, heap guilt on them or say, "A fine group of disciples you turned out to be!" No, he came to help them catch some nice, large fish, call them "friends," and cook a warm breakfast over some hot coals for them.
While reading this simple but beautiful story of friendship, I was once again amazed at the love of Christ and His desire to help us, spend time with us and be our true and faithful friend. He forgives and forgets our past and says, "Come, have some breakfast with me." What a friend we have in Jesus!
October 2009
"…Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry." (James 1:19)
Early this morning, I walked out to the end of our long driveway to pick up the newspaper and empty garbage can. For some reason when I arrived at the end of the driveway, I stopped and listened. I identified at least three different birds that were chirping and singing a "Good Morning" to me. I take this same walk every morning that I am at home and not traveling. How many mornings have I ignored these beautiful sounds? We have bird feeders, bird baths and bird houses on our property and I do frequently observe the beauty of these winged gifts from God, but to be honest, I very seldom listen. You see, listening takes time. Many times, to be honest, I’m just too busy and too into my own world to stop and listen to the beautiful sounds God has given us.
It is the same from my devotional time with God. I pray, read and then move on with my day. Rick Warren says, "Usually we’re in too much of a hurry to do this (listen to God). We often just say, ‘Hi, God, it’s me. I’ve got ten things I need from You. Thank You. Over-and-out. Goodbye.’"
May I say the obvious? It is extremely important to listen to God, to hear what He has to say. The writer of Hebrews says, "We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away." (Hebrews 2:1 NIV)
In John 10:16, Jesus says, "My sheep will listen to my voice."
I want to learn to be a good listener, to truly care deeply about what my wife, family, friends and others say. Mostly, I want to learn to better listen to God. Prayer is 50% talking and 50% listening!
To learn more about the importance of listening to God read: I Kings 19:11-13, Mark 4:9 and Luke 6:49.
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