"MAX LUCADO'S 40 DAY DEVOTIONAL"
I am looking now at a 40 day devotional prepared by Max Lucado to go along with his "John 3:16" program which we dealt with in last week's bulletin. Much of the material broken down for the 40 days contains some of the things we wrote about last week. I will devote my attention, then, to the things which he wrote for "day 15". Bear in mind that, during the 40 days, you are to read one devotional for each day. As I came across day 15, I was greatly saddened by the poor handling of Scripture and the use of conjecture. Using his constant "poetic license" he refers to Jesus as the "lanky lad sweeping sawdust from the floor". I wonder how he knows that Jesus was lanky? Oh well, I can let him have his poetic license.
However, when I got to the end of day 15, doctrinal issues arose which cannot be dismissed under the guise of "poetic license". He closes day 15 by telling his readers that "your goodness can't win God's love". The Scriptures teach us that God loved us first (I John 4:19). The love of God is for all His creatures made in His image. That love is manifested in the truth that God sent His only begotten Son into the world in order that all men might be saved (John 3:16). The nature of God cannot change because He is God (Malachi 3:6). We count on that unchanging aspect of God. God cannot cease to love because He cannot change what He is.
Is that not what Mr. Lucado is affirming? If one is speaking about the love of God for humanity, then indeed the love of God never changes. Mr. Lucado, however, writes from the position of man and not God. You cannot "win" the love of God, he states. Paul reasons that he counted all things but loss for Christ (Philippians 3:7). Why did he adopt such an attitude? Well, the answer he gives in verse 8 is order that he "…may win Christ". What does Paul know that Max does not know? Paul gave up everything in order that he may win Christ. Max tells his readers, you cannot win God's love. Who, then, are you going to put your faith in?
Peter affirmed at the house of Cornelius that God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34). By this Peter meant that both Jew and Gentile were the same in the eyes of God. He goes on to explain in verse 35 that certain ones will be accepted by God while others will not. Those who fear God and work righteousness are accepted by God. Those who do not are not accepted by God. Does God still love everyone? Yes, because God does not change. He is the "great I Am". If God loves me then He will accept me, correct? Why read something into the text that is not there. The issue is not the love of God but rather the conduct of man that causes God to accept one and reject another.
What is the message from the Old Testament about what God required? Fear God and keep His commandments is the whole of man (Ecclesiastes 12:13). Does God change? No, because the nature of God cannot change. What did God expect out of his people under the law of Moses? They were to fear Him and keep His commandments. How different is that from what Peter told Cornelius? In every nation those who fear God and work righteousness are ACCEPTED by God. Where is the righteousness of God revealed? In the gospel of Jesus Christ is the answer (Romans 1:16,17). What did Cornelius have to understand? One must WORK righteousness in order to be accepted by God.
Going back to the passage in Philippians 3, Paul states that he wants to be found in Christ not having his own righteousness that was through the law of Moses (Philippians 3:9). How would Paul be found in Christ? Because he gave up everything in order to WIN CHRIST.
Max adds the next line to follow his reasoning. Your badness cannot lose it. He then adds to make the waters even more murky. He states you can resist it. You cannot earn it or lose it but you can resist it. Yet Paul says he had this concern. After he had preached to others that he himself might become a castaway (I Corinthians 9:27). That sounds to me like I might have the possibility of losing my relationship with God. God does not change; we do. God has never accepted anyone who rejected His will.