Serving the Least - Martin Wiles

I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me! Matthew 25:40 NLT

He pushed a buggy and always appeared to be in a hurry.

“I hate to throw away all those leftovers,” my wife said as we sat at the supper table.

Cooking for two people is challenging, and she had prepared too much for our New Year’s meal. We had eaten leftovers twice and still had more to consume.

“What would be wrong with me warming the leftovers up for the homeless man down the street,” she asked.

“Nothing,” I replied, seeing her big heart explode with moisture in her eyes.

Recently, two homeless men had moved into our area. One stayed in a small shack by a local business. So my wife warmed up the leftovers and placed them in several to-go plates. We pulled up to his shack and told him we had some food for him. His response puzzled us.

“You can take it and give it your dogs,” he muttered as he shook his head back and forth.

“But, it’s home-cooked food,” my wife protested.

Her pleading did no good. He became more irritated and made more demeaning remarks. He wanted money to buy his own food but would not take ours. Perhaps he was mentally challenged. Perhaps he feared we were trying to poison him.

“Just leave,” I finally told my wife. And we did as he continued to rant and rave at us.

Jesus lists the thirsty, hungry, prisoners, naked, strangers, and sick among those we should serve in His name, but He never said our efforts would be easy, convenient, or always accepted with warmth and appreciation.

Having this encounter with this one homeless man would make it easy for me to stereotype all homeless people. Instead, I prayed for him that night, asking God to soften his heart towards people who might try to help him. And when God prompts us, my wife and I will help again.

God judges my motives, not the people’s response who I try to assist. He holds me accountable for doing the right thing whether others appreciate it or not. And doing the right thing always feels right because it is the right thing to do. God’s love cannot be contained in a body. It must flow to others as God designed it to.

Tweetable: Don’t let fear, inconvenience, or bad experiences keep you from spreading God’s love.

Prayer: Father, give us opportunities to serve the least of this world, realizing we could be where they are. 

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Throwback Tuesday - The Hundred Dollar Book - Martin Wiles

The Hundred Dollar Book

I couldn’t believe it when he handed me a one hundred dollar bill for a ten dollar book.

I had just finished speaking and promoting my latest book. People were now lined up at the table wanting to purchase a copy—and even wanting me to place my signature in the front cover. One by one they handed my wife their money and me their book.

As the line dwindled, I noticed one man waiting patiently with a bill neatly folded and tucked in his hand. As he approached, I signed his book and handed it over. He smiled, handed me the money, and quickly strolled away. Read more...

Tweetable: Give to God first and watch what He does. 

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Intimidated - Martin Wiles

As I was on the road, approaching Damascus about noon, a very bright light from heaven suddenly shone down around me. Acts 22:6 NLT

“Intimidator.” He was once proud of the name—but not anymore.

Richard and his brothers had a reputation. Brawny and bad to the bone, they didn’t take nothing off of anybody. Messing with them was bad news. They would gladly take you down—for little or no reason at all. Their violent words were matched by violent behavior. Fights were their business, and they went looking for them. Richard wore his nickname well and was more than willing to show anyone why he had it—until someone more intimidating than he was showed up.

Richard discovered God wasn’t scared of him and was more than willing to fight for his soul. He couldn’t bully God . . . couldn’t even touch Him. But God could fight him in ways he couldn’t defend himself against. He could hurt his conscience and his heart. He could bring out the soft side of him that he let no one else see.

Richard still speaks about his nickname—but in the past tense. That’s who he was, but it’s not who he is now. He saw the light.

Paul saw a light too. He was also big and bad—but in the religious field. This new “Way”—Christianity, had to be stamped out. So he busied himself arresting Christians and dragging them off to jail where many of them were put to death. Until he saw the light. The same light Richard saw thousands of years later. The light of a greater “Intimidator.” An intimidator who informed him that he was traveling the wrong path.

God doesn’t intimidate with catcalls, fights, and threats. He intimidates with the truth about me. I’m a sinner in need of help, and He’s the only One who can assist me. I can’t work to be good enough for Him to accept. Someone better than me—someone perfect, had to suffer for my sins. And in His love, God allowed His Son to take my place on a rugged cross. All He asks for in return is my love and obedience.

Relationship was why God created humans in the beginning and why He died for them in the end. No matter how intimidating I may try to be, I cannot out intimidate God’s truth about who I am and what I need to do.

Feeling intimidated? Accept God’s truth, love the Great Lover, and experience life at its best.

Prayer: Father, we draw nigh unto You, for nothing else will satisfy the hole in our hearts. 

Tweetable: God created us for relationships. 

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Accused - Martin Wiles

You gave me victory over my accusers. Psalm 18:43 NLT

Accusations can sting—especially the false ones.

Norris couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “Didn’t you know she was ____?” “Couldn’t you smell ____ on her breath?” It was bad enough that he’d just had his wife confess unfaithfulness and tell him she didn’t love him anymore. Now the spiritual leaders of the church he pastored were accusing him of a cover-up. But he didn’t know she was ___. And he had not smelled _____ on her breath. He had his suspicions—but no solid proof. There was nothing he could do but resign. 

I’ve experienced a little of what Norris tasted. I, too, remember a time when a comment I made was taken out of context, and it almost cost me my job. Being falsely accused hurts—and can bring with it a high cost.

What the psalmist was accused of, we aren’t told. The missing information isn’t important though. He trusted God to give him victory over his accusers.

Jesus was familiar with false accusations too. When He cast out demons, the religious authorities said He was empowered by the prince of demons. False accusations eventually led Him to the cross.

Early Christians also knew about false accusations. Ironically, they were accused of being atheists. Not because they didn’t worship or believe in any god but because they would not acknowledge the Roman Caesar as god nor believe in the Roman pantheon of gods.

False accusations are a part of life at some moment during the journey. They may or may not have anything to do with my faith, but more than likely they will. Those who accuse have ulterior motives. Perhaps they want my job. Maybe they hate the morality that comes along with my belief system.

Jesus responded to false accusations by making Himself as a sheep going to slaughter: silence. Reacting with anger, cursing, or other forms of violent behavior won’t do the trick. Nor will appealing to my legal rights. These things will only serve to damage my witness before others.

The best course of action is to turn the matter over to God. He said vengeance belonged to Him—not me. Praying over the matter and praying for the person making the false accusations will bring peace to my soul and keep me from doing something that will hinder the cause of God.

Tweetable: Let God handle false accusations made against you.

Prayer: Father, when others falsely accuse us, give us the strength to respond in a godly fashion. 

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Flashback Friday - Dealing with Depression - Martin Wiles

Dealing with Depression

“Take the medicine and stay out of the Emergency Room.”

Those were my doctor’s words when I finally accepted his diagnosis of depression. My home and professional life were in shambles. I felt like I was in a tailspin—barely able to keep my head above water. Dark clouds were my constant friends. Pains afflicted various parts of my body. Was it stress, worry, or an approaching heart attack? Read more...

Tweetable: Is depression depressing you? 

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When the Battles Come - Martin Wiles

You have armed me with strength for the battle. Psalm 18:39 NLT

Some battles have nothing to do with picking up a weapon.

Military blood runs through my family veins. My father did a stint in the National Guard and then the Army, serving overseas in the Formosa Crisis. My father-in-law retired from the Army, doing time in the Korean and Vietnam Wars. A brother-in-law served in the Air Force, and a nephew did time in Iraq. Even both of my children did short stints.

When I entered my teenage years, the Vietnam War was nearing an end—at least America’s involvement in it. The military draft was still in force, and I feared I would end up in a war that seemed to have no end. But it did end—along with the draft.

Though I’ve never served in the military, I admire those who have and do. And although I’ve never fought in a military battle, I’ve fought a number of other battles: Are my parenting skills up to par, on what grounds do I make this decision, how will I care for my aging parents and in-laws, should I keep this job or look for another, how will I pay for the move, why am I depressed, can I get through this divorce, will I ever find someone to love me.

The psalmist was familiar with military battles, but he was also familiar with other battles that didn’t require picking up a weapon. Regardless of what type of battle he fought, God armed him with the necessary means to fight it.

God gives all the armor I need to fight my battles with the enemy of my soul—and also the battles I sometimes fight with God. He gives me the helmet of salvation. Thoughts determine actions. I have the power to think on what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable. I have a breastplate of righteousness, given when I placed my faith in Jesus Christ. Faith is my shield, and I take the gospel of peace wherever I go. My clothes are girded with the belt of truth—which determines everything I say and do. And I have God’s Word to guide every decision I make and action I take.

When the battles come, victory is certain if I will adorn myself with the full armor of God. Don’t let the battles of life defeat you. Claim the victory that can be yours.

Tweetable: Claim the victory that is yours in Christ. 

Prayer: Father, thank You for giving us the weapons we need to be victorious over every one of life’s battles. 

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Shielded - Martin Wiles

You have given me your shield of victory. Psalm 18:35 NLT

Never had a game evoked such fear in me.

As a middle schooler, I was weak, shy, and non-athletic. I dreaded physical education class—mainly because of one game: dodgeball.

I was always the last one picked when the team captains made their choices. Skinny, freckled-faced, glasses. Nothing that would make them want me on their team. I made sure I stood behind everyone else when the balls started whizzing by, but eventually I was exposed. It was then I began using my shield.

Getting hit in the torso or below the waist was bearable, but a hit in the head could be tragic. I wore glasses, and Mom had strictly instructed me to guard them with my life. She and Dad could not afford to replace them. As the balls made their aim at me, I shielded my head with my arms and hands. 

When I was a teenager, I tortured my two younger brothers with the same game I was tortured with by lining them up on the edge of our open carport and throwing balls at them. They, too, used their arms and hands as shields, but doing so didn’t stop them from cascading from the ledge to the ground below when I hit them.

David was a warrior and very familiar with a shield. While he didn’t use one against Goliath, the giant he fought, he did in many battles after that as he protected his nation against their enemies.

Thousands of years into the future, the apostle Paul would say faith is the believer’s shield. As my hands shielded me from slams by the dodgeballs, so my faith shields me from the darts of my soul’s enemy. When I believed in and accepted Christ as my Savior, God gave me the righteousness of Christ. Though I take many hits in life, that body armor of righteousness—along with my shield of faith, keeps me from being defeated.

Faith helps me move forward, even when I can’t see the way. Faith prompts me to obey God’s plan, even when it appears illogical. Faith keeps me determined in my walk with the Lord, even when I sometimes want to give up. Faith shields me from persistent and uncontrollable doubt, anger, frustration, anxiety, worry, depression, and fear.

God gives all His children a shield. Take yours, so you can fight life’s battle with a guarantee of success.

Tweetable: Let God's shield protect you from life's fears.

Prayer: Father, we take the shield of faith and march into battle, knowing we will be triumphant. 

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