Today in the Word for July 27-August 9
Today in the Word
Wednesday July 27, 2021
Hiking in the Pintlers last week had me reflecting on our spiritual journey. Welcome to The Word with Pastor David. In Paul’s listing of the armor of God, he writes in Ephesians 6:15:
“…with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.”
When hiking, if one does not have the proper footwear, they are not ready to hike. No flip-flops or sandals will do here. Footwear needs to be sturdy, ‘grippy,’ waterproof, and comfortable. Then your feet are ready to hit high-country trails that are harsh and demanding.
It is Jesus’ gospel of peace that helps us hit the trail of our life. When we internalize the Good News (gospel) of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross enabling us to have genuine peace with God, then we are ready for the path before us. We are walking in grace and we can communicate God’s grace to others. We now demonstrate the ‘readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.’ We can navigate the challenging path of life, because we are ready.
And that’s The Word from Pastor David of Deer Lodge Assembly on the corner of 5th and Montana.
Today in the Word
Thursday July 28, 2021
What is crucial in hiking the path of Life? Welcome to The Word with Pastor David. During a fantastic hike in the Pintlers last week, I made some comparisons to our spiritual walk. Isaiah 44:2-3 reads in part:
“This is what the Lord says—he who made you, who formed you in the womb, and who will help you: Do not be afraid, Jacob…whom I have chosen. For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring…”
Whenever expending a great deal of energy, we must stay hydrated. In high country, water can be scarce, so one has to carry what they need to avoid the energy crash and disorientation that can come from dehydration.
The Lord knows the path of life can suck it out of us. So, he reminds us that he can help us by His Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit’s work often is described with a water image. The Holy Spirit is poured out. We are baptized (immersed) in the Holy Spirit.
The fact is, without the Holy Spirit’s help in the path of life, we will dry out and get disoriented and lose our way. Stay spiritually hydrated!
And that’s The Word from Pastor David of Deer Lodge Assembly on the corner of 5th and Montana.
Today in the Word
Friday July 29, 2021
Sometimes we just cannot see where the path of Life leads. How do we navigate? Welcome to The Word with Pastor David. David announces in Psalm 56:11-13:
“in God I trust and am not afraid…
For you have delivered me from death and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.”
Notice that David says, ‘you have delivered me.’ The question to ask ourselves when the trail ahead seems obscured is, ‘Who got me this far?’ We all have a history with God. He has helped us before when things looked bad. We are still connected to the same God who has helped before. He will deliver us again. We can trust him. We do not have to be afraid of what we cannot see. Trust your history with God.
And that’s the Word. Tune in Sundays at 10:30 on the Deer Lodge Assembly Facebook page for our Livestreamed service or join us at the corner of 5th and Montana.
Today in The Word
Monday August 2, 2021
What to do when we cannot see the trail ahead? Welcome to The Word with Pastor David. Psalms 18:36 reads:
“You provide a broad path for my feet, so that my ankles do not give way.”
I was hiking some incredible trails in the Pintler Wilderness last week, and I believe that some of them were built by my grandfather back in the 1930’s and 1940’s when he worked out of the Missoula office as a forest ranger. Even if I couldn’t see far ahead, I trusted the trail-maker.
And so should we in our spiritual life. We are to trust the Trail-Maker. He is the One who knows our future, and has designed a good path for us. He can make a way through difficult country for us, if we will trust him.
Put your trust in the Trail-Maker.
And that’s The Word from Pastor David of Deer Lodge Assembly on the corner of 5th and Montana.
Today in The Word
Tuesday Aug 3, 2021
How do we manage when we cannot see the trail ahead? Welcome to The Word with Pastor David. Jesus offers the following in his Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 6:34:
“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
On a trail in the Pintlers, a hiker can keep worrying about what is around the next bend. In our spiritual life we can do the same. But we do not have control over the future. Jesus’ advice is to focus on the immediate path. Concentrate on where to put your feet today. Focusing all our mental energy on what has not occurred yet can contribute to stumbling in the present. Doesn’t today’s path present enough challenges without stacking on tomorrow’s?
Worry is completely counterproductive. Focus on the immediate path.
And that’s The Word from Pastor David of Deer Lodge Assembly on the corner of 5th and Montana.
Today in the Word
Wednesday Aug 4, 2021
Have you ever looked ahead on a mountain trail and groaned at the steep path ahead? Welcome to The Word with Pastor David. Sometimes we make mistakes because we can see the trail ahead, and it looks hard. Proverbs 21:16 states:
“Whoever strays from the path of prudence comes to rest in the company of the dead.”
If the trail ahead looks hard, we can turn around in despair. The Israelites did that at the Jordan, and wandered for a generation. But the Word points out the obvious. If the trail is hard, it is even more important to stay on the path. It is dangerous to leave the path.
Last week in the Pintlers, we had to negotiate a very steep, narrow path cut into the side of the mountain. We were very careful to stay on the path. A misstep could cost us our life. We need to realize that our spiritual journey is the same. Straying from God’s command and direction could result in coming, “…to rest in the company of the dead.” It is dangerous to leave God’s path.
And that’s The Word from Pastor David of Deer Lodge Assembly on the corner of 5th and Montana.
Today in the Word
Thursday Aug 5, 2021
Have you ever looked ahead on a mountain trail and groaned at the steep path ahead? Welcome to The Word with Pastor David. Sometimes we make mistakes because we can see the trail ahead, and it looks hard. One mistake is found in Psalms 73:2-5, 13-14:
“But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold. For I envied the…prosperity of the wicked. They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong. They are free from common human burdens…
Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure…All day long I have been afflicted, and every morning brings new punishments.”
When our path is hard, we can envy the easier path of others. We are toiling away, and each day brings new difficulties. The grass seems so much greener over the fence! But if we give in to envy of our neighbor’s life path, we can slip on our own.
Keep your footing, especially when your path is hard. Don’t give envy any room in your heart.
And that’s The Word from Pastor David of Deer Lodge Assembly on the corner of 5th and Montana.
Today in the Word
Friday Aug 6, 2021
What can help us when our path becomes very difficult? Welcome to The Word with Pastor David. David has been envying the easy path of the wicked. Psalm 73:16-17, 21-24:
“When I tried to understand all this, it troubled me deeply till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny…
When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered, I was senseless and ignorant…
Yet I am always with you…You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.”
When I feel a mountain trail is too much, I recall the snacks and water and rest at the end of the trail. I look forward to the trail’s end. When the trail of life is difficult and it seems that others have it easy, stop nursing bitterness. You will do better on the path when you remember your final destination. When it is hard, tell yourself, God “…will take me into glory.”
And that’s the Word. Tune in Sundays at 10:30 on the Deer Lodge Assembly Facebook page for our Livestreamed service or join us at the corner of 5th and Montana.
Today in The Word
Monday August 9, 2021
Have you ever asked yourself while hiking if you have what it takes to finish the trail? Welcome to The Word with Pastor David. Psalms 18:32-33 reads:
“It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he causes me to stand on the heights.”
The other day, deep into a 15 mi hike, we found the tracks, hair and scat of a mountain goat in the trail. We were above 9,000 ft, and congratulated ourselves that we were in mountain goat country!
In our spiritual journey, the Word says we do not have to travel on our own power. God can help us ascend to higher heights. He can help our clunky feet behave like a mountain goat’s. God can get us to the top! It is exhilarating to stand at the top with vistas in every direction. When the way seems hard, and our strength and ability seem inadequate, we must remind ourselves: God can get us to the top!
And that’s The Word from Pastor David of Deer Lodge Assembly on the corner of 5th and Montana.