Chet Bandy

One Name

Today’s reading is John 14.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

These words spoken by Jesus himself in John 14:6 make it crystal clear there is only one way to Heaven and that’s through Him and Him only. He is the only true Gospel and the only one who can forgive sins to bring us together with our Heavenly Father. Paul warned us and predicted false religions who would claim there would be another ‘gospel” and another way to Heaven in Galatians 1:8.

But even if we or an angel from Heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.

Jesus and his disciples spoke Aramaic. They would not have pronounced his name the way we pronounce it today in English. They would have actually pronounced it, “Yeshua.” The name Yeshua means, “The LORD saves.” Matthew 1:21 says, “You shall call His name Jesus, for He will save his people from their sins.” Jesus must save us from our sins..it’s not only what He came to do but it’s actually in His name. There is only one name that is higher than any other name and has the ability and who actually saves us from our sins, Jesus.

Because of this, He is the only name we should pray to. Because of this, He is the only one worthy of our worship and praise. And because of this, we should want to live our life for Him in obedience to Him. One name.

He’s Always There

Today’s reading is Exodus 40.

For the cloud of the Lord was on the tabernacle by day, and fire was in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel throughout all their journeys.

Exodus 40:38

In this chapter, God gives the Israelites instructions for building the tabernacle of the tent of meeting which was a portable structure to travel with them that above all things housed the ark of the covenant which held the Ten Commandments. The verse above tells us they knew the presence of the Lord was there to lead them through a cloud during the day and fire by night. There are also times when the Israelites would leave stones or build an altar so that they, and most importantly future generations, would remember what God had done for them. We know this from Joshua 4:20-24 where they left stones at the place they crossed the Jordan River into the promised land after God dried it up and also in Exodus 17:14-16 where Moses built an altar to remind them of their victory over Amalek. Jacob also built an altar at Bethel in Genesis 28:18-22, and Samuel set up a stone in 1 Samuel 7:12 calling it Ebenezer meaning, “Thus far the Lord has helped us.”

We may not have the benefit today of “seeing” the Lord’s presence in a cloud or pillar of fire, but when we develop a relationship with God and grow closer to him, we notice how he’s shows up and the blessings He gives us that are not coincidences. We reflect on things like the business he helped us start from scratch or our career, a child’s laugh, your spouse, noticing the car running the red light and stopping just in time, the health tests that came back clear, or even the friend or parent that introduced your to Jesus. While your health, your marriage, your job/career, or other things may not be perfect, we can find blessings in most all of them and how God provided if we reflect on them. James 4:8 says, “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.” While James was not writing related to this context, I believe it still applied. I had someone close to me who struggled dealing with challenges he faced in life. He would consistently focus on what he didn’t have like a spouse or children. Sadly, he struggled on being grateful for what God did provide for him like a mother and later brother who loved and cared for him and that he didn’t have to worry about money at all through qualifying for disability income through multiple sources. I’m blessed to have an amazing spouse and children, so it saddens me he didn’t have the same and can’t blame him for struggling that he didn’t have this. Yet, what I’ve witnessed in others is that when they grow closer to God, they notice and are able to focus on and be grateful for the countless ways God has blessed them despite their challenges. This also allows them to know when they are lonely and fearful, God is still there and He will help them as He did in the past.

So, my questions for you and myself today are the following….

What are we doing to grow our relationship with God?
Have we reflected how God has showed up and provided in our lives?
Have we “set up stones” to be able to tell our children and others about God’s presence and what He’s done in our lives, so will we will remember to trust Him with the uncertainty of our future?

Perspective

Today’s reading is Matthew 5.

A pastor could preach on Matthew 5 for years and a devotional writer could write for the same. This chapter is the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount which is the greatest sermon or speech ever written or given. My assignment is to write on the injustices and how the Spirit is promoting us to respond. With this in mind, I’ll focus on the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:1-12.

““Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Matthew 5:3-12

These verses highlight sacrifices, struggles, or injustices we may experience or even one could say for some of them, “suffer” in this life. People experiencing these are not typically people we would call blessed. The ones we would typically call blessed are those raising a trophy, winning an award, driving a luxury car, living in the large house, or making lots of money.

Thinking about this reminds me of a piece of a sermon from one of my favorite pastors, Francis Chan. He pulls out a rope that seems to be endless with a very small piece of black tape on it. He highlights that this small piece of black tape represents our life on this earth, while the rope that just seems to keep going and going forever as a eternity. He puts them in perspective by saying that most of us are living for the little black piece of tape and not the rope! This seems so silly when you think about how small the tape is and how the rope goes on forever! What a great perspective this brings. Shouldn’t we be living for the rope?

Whether we are facing some of the challenges or just lack of glory highlighted in the Beatitudes during our time here on Earth, we will be rewarded when we get to Heaven if we are living for Him! And Heaven and eternity are a lot longer and matter more then this life on Earth!

Let’s respond by choosing to live for the rope!

Receiving The Gift..

Today’s reading is Psalm 37.

This last week has brought under the microscope the actions of Dr. Anthony Fauci. Regardless of where you stand on his actions, it is very clear that that those in the government, large corporations, and in high places (he did not act alone) have lots of power and control and may not always have the best intentions of those they lead and supposedly “serve.” It seems like constantly in the news someone in authority is being questioned on the legitimacy and intentions of their actions and decisions that effect those they lead or oversee.

While we will many times not know on this side of eternity whether the action of those in authority are good..in fact I’m confident there are many we hold in high regard and put on pedestals as heroes who actually were doing harm…the Bible is clear that evil doers will be brought to justice. Here in Psalm 37 alone we see it the following verses; Psalm 37:1-2, Psalm 37:9-10, Psalm 37:13, Psalm 37:15, Psalm 37:17, Psalm 37:20, Psalm 37:22, Psalm 37:35-36, and Psalm 37:38.

On the flip side, Psalm 37 is also clear the righteous will be rewarded in the following verses: Psalm 37:3-4, Psalm 37:5-6, Psalm 37:9, Psalm 37:11, Psalm 37:18-19, Psalm 37:22-24, Psalm 37:25-26, Psalm 37:28-29, Psalm 37:30-31, Psalm 37:33-34, Psalm 37:37, and finally Psalm 37:39-40.

The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; He is their stronghold in the time of trouble. The Lord helps them and delivers them; He delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in Him.

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭37‬:‭39‬-‭40‬ ‭

So, how do we become righteous? Is it through our actions? The Bible is also very clear in Romans 3:23 that “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” This is also told in Romans 3:10-12 and Psalm 53-1-3 that none of us are righteous on our own through our own actions. Romans 6:23 says His justice would condemn us, but the “free gift of God is eternal life in Jesus.” We don’t earn his mercy, we receive it.

How do we receive this gift?

In his recent Live Free podcast, Pastor Josh Howerton describes there are 3 types

of faith theologians discuss in Latin.

Noticea: having knowledge of a fact about God.
Assensus: agreeing the fact is actually true, not just knowing it.
Fiducia: putting your trust and one’s life in that fact…not just knowing and agreeing with it.

This last one, fiducia, is what we must do to receive God’s grace and mercy to become righteous. Josh notes that even the demons acknowledge who Jesus is in the Bible and have the first 2, but they don’t possess the 3rd necessary saving faith. They don’t put their trust in Him and make Him the Lord of their life. Again, this how we become righteous, to actually receive the gift of His mercy by trusting Him.

“Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him, and He will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭37‬:‭5‬-‭6‬ ‭

Megas

Today’s reading is James 4.

The first four verses of this chapter (James 4:1-4) challenge us to determine whether we are more of a friend of the world or God. I’ve heard pastors say that if you want to see where your priorities lie, look at your bank/credit card statement and your calendar. This will tell you where your focus and your heart is. I can tell myself and others all I want that He Is my highest priority, but these would sadly tell a different story. Reviewing these would say I am a friend of the world. Verse 4 tells us that makes me an enemy of God.

What is my response to my enemies? I wish I could say something differently, but it is usually that I’m perfectly fine with seeing them stumble and fall. I want retribution for the wrong they have done to me or my family or to those I care about.

What is God’s response to me being his enemy by prioritizing the world over him? James 4:6 says he gives “more grace.” The Greek word before grace is actual megas which is like saying He gives us mega grace. Romans 5:8 says, “but God showed His love for us that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” His love and mercy for us is truly incredible.

While we don’t need to do anything to receive His grace, James 4:7-8 tells us that if submit to God, the devil will flee from us. And if we draw closer to God, He will draw closer to us. In James 4:9, it goes on to say if we humble ourselves before God, He will exalt us.

Our sin exalted Him to be lifted up and nailed on a cross to die and suffer a painful death. Yet His grace creates a bridge that draws us in and brings us together with Him for an eternity.

In response to this, we are all called upon to not gossip and speak badly of others, but instead to give grace to them (James 4:11-12).

The question for you and me is, what will we do with it? Will we draw near to Him? Will we give others the “mega grace” He gives us we don’t deserve?

Conflict

Today’s reading is Galatians 2.

Galatians 2 is most famously known for Galatians 2:15-21 where Paul’s letter to the church in Galatia focuses on being saved by faith and not by works. Let’s talk a little bit more though about what led up to this in Galatians 2:11-14.

Here in these verses, Paul is upset with Cephas (Peter) at Antioch because he’s eating foods Jews don’t eat with the Gentiles (non-jews) and then as soon as other strict and influential Jews show up, he stops doing so. Although Peter knew the Gentiles were saved by faith and not by what food they eat, his pull back and return to only eating food Jews were allowed to eat seemed to imply again that someone can be saved by the law (works) and that you are not only saved by faith alone. Not only did Paul believe this was hypocritical and tore down the truth of the Gospel, you are saved by faith and not by works, but it also negatively influenced Barnabas to follow him. Our actions matter and lead others in a positive or negative direction.

Paul teaches us a great lesson here in Galatians 2:11.

But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned.

One of my mentors shared with me something he learned which was that you should “seek conflict.” This may seem sound strange, but there is a difference between “creating conflict” and seeking it. What he meant is that when there are conflicts, talk about it and discuss it. Face it head on. Don’t let it fester..that will only make it worse. Also, don’t just talk about someone or something you don’t agree with behind their back..address it directly with them. Conflicts and disagreements will undoubtedly occur, and this is how you solve them. Paul models this and teaches us this important lesson.

Jesus also teaches us to face conflict with someone else directly.

⁵“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. ¹⁶But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. ¹⁷If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.

Matthew 18:15-17

Here Jesus not only tells us to face conflict with others, but He also tells us a 3 step process on how to do it. You face it with them privately, then with one or two others if they don’t stop, and thirdly, address it with the church.

Let us pray for wisdom for the courage to face conflicts head on and to do so in the manner Jesus outlined.

Even If

Today’s reading is 2 Corinthians 12.

⁷So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations,^[^a^] a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. ⁸Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. ⁹But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. ¹⁰For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

2 Corinthians 12:7-10

As I’ve shared in the past, I was diagnosed with spinal stenosis in my neck in 2018. This caused tingling in my spine, loss of coordination, and atrophy and loss of strength in my right and later my left hand. I was recommend to have a spinal fusion at Mayo but by the grace of God was connected by my sister-in-law Kim through her sister Diane to a doctor in Pittsburgh who fixed my issue through 5 minimally invasive surgeries in 2019 and 2021 without fusion and its negative side effects.

By no coincidence I’m sure, 2 Corinthians 12 has been my assigned writing multiple times since 2018. Below is an excerpt of a writing from November 2021 after my 5^th and final surgery.

Paul states that his affliction (we are not sure what that affliction is) keeps him from being conceited. Is this the case for me? I don’t know..maybe. I know one thing..I’ve been blessed in my life with some things I don’t deserve that unfortunately not everyone has…loving parents, a loving and supportive wife, four healthy kids, financial blessings, and a stable career I love. If I didn’t have some “thorn(s),” would I even think I needed God? I realize God had His hand on my life when he led me into the field of financial planning, rather than dentistry/orthodontics, my original dream career which I was ready to apply for at the University of Illinois, which I would not be able to do with my hand issues. If these surgeries were not possible due to modern medicine, I would be like the man at the pool in the Bible..paralyzed eventually. He led me to a surgeon and surgery options by His grace that were better than what Mayo even proposed. I can still throw a ball with my kids and type on a keyboard which is needed in my career. I’m extremely grateful for His provision through all of this. I’m also grateful these challenges are mine and not my wife or my children.

Most importantly, as I look down and see my puny, almost withered, right hand or need my wife Shannon or my kids help opening something or doing a button for me..I’m reminded what Paul says here in 2 Corinthians 12:10…when I am weak, then I am strong. His grace is sufficient and His power is made perfect in my weakness. It’s all that matters and all I really need in life. Ironically, as another Paul, my good friend and Christ follower Paul Kelly, stated the following to me recently in a text message dialogue after a sermon…

“My desire to be the best version of myself will never be good enough. So..it’s in our weaknesses that God unveils our greatest gifts..His love is incomprehensively good and although I’ll never be worth it…I will forever be grateful.”

Thank you, Paul…no truer words can be said.

I have never heard the audible words of God. But there are times where I have been 100% certain God was speaking to me through other ways. As we were pulling out of the driveway to go to Mayo for my consultation in the summer of 2018 and I was not certain what my future held when it came to my ability to walk or use my right hand, the song Even If by Mercy Me came on the radio. I broke down. It reminded me that God could fix my issues if he thought it was best, just like Paul, but if he didn’t…He was and is enough. Today, while my issues are “fixed,” I still have atrophy, weakness, and loss of some motor functionality in my right hand. As I stated back in 2021, the challenges I still have today make me extremely grateful for what I am able to do and how much worse it could have been…as well as how much different my life could have been if God didn’t lead me down my current career path. I’m extremely grateful for His infinite wisdom, provision, and plan.

Please read the lyrics to Even If by Mercy Me, as well as here is the link to the lyric video.

https://youtu.be/B6fA35Ved-Y?si=qZdheCOPt_gpYuid

Even If by Mercy Me

They say sometimes you win some
Sometimes you lose some
And right now, right now I’m losing bad
I’ve stood on this stage night after night
Reminding the broken it’ll be alright
But right now, oh right now I just can’t

It’s easy to sing
When there’s nothing to bring me down
But what will I say
When I’m held to the flame
Like I am right now

I know You’re able and I know You can
Save through the fire with Your mighty hand
But even if You don’t
My hope is You alone

They say it only takes a little faith
To move a mountain
Well good thing
A little faith is all I have, right now
But God, when You choose
To leave mountains unmovable
Oh give me the strength to be able to sing
It is well with my soul

I know You’re able and I know You can
Save through the fire with Your mighty hand
But even if You don’t
My hope is You alone
I know the sorrow, and I know the hurt
Would all go away if You’d just say the word
But even if You don’t
My hope is You alone

You’ve been faithful, You’ve been good
All of my days
Jesus, I will cling to You
Come what may
‘Cause I know You’re able
I know You can

I know You’re able and I know You can
Save through the fire with Your mighty hand
But even if You don’t
My hope is You alone
I know the sorrow, I know the hurt
Would all go away if You’d just say the word
But even if You don’t
My hope is You alone

It is well with my soul
It is well, it is well with my soul

Soul Insurance

Today’s reading is Psalm 91.

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High

will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say to the Lord, ‘My refuge and my fortress,

my God, in whom I trust.’”

Psalm 91:1

These past weeks have brought some challenging times and even what I will call tragedy to some who I am acquainted with. As I read on through Psalm 91 about how God will protect those who make God their fortress and their shelter, I will be transparent in that I’m challenged as to why God didn’t seem to “protect” these families impacted by some of these tragedies. I will also say that most of those affected I don’t know well enough to have any idea where they were in their faith walk and whether they were trusting God with their life and their protection, nor am I to judge even if I knew them well enough to have the slightest idea. I think we can all say though that we’ve seen tragedies affect even very strong believers who we would say are close to God.

Many of us may be familiar with legendary college basketball Jim Valvano’s iconic speech at ESPN’s Espy Awards before he passed from cancer. One of his most famous statements from the speech was this, “Cancer can take away all of my physical abilities. It cannot touch my mind, it cannot touch my heart, and it cannot touch my soul.” That last part is what resonates with me, no matter what Satan does in physical harm to myself or my family on this side of Heaven…he “cannot touch my soul.”

Scripture is best interpreted when it’s cross reference with other Scripture. In fact, Jesus often did this. As I reflected on Psalm 91, my mind kept pulling me to Romans 8 which is a chapter in the Bible that can be referenced in many of life’s circumstances and challenges.

³⁸For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, ³⁹nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:38-39

God may not stop Satan from physically harming our earthly bodies, as we saw with Job or even Jesus. But, Satan can never separate us from Christ’s love and keep our soul from living with God for eternity in Heaven when we trust in God and have given our life to Him.

Every..

Today’s reading is Revelation 5.

In this chapter we read that no one was worthy to open the sealed scroll held by God the Father on the throne, except for the Lamb, Jesus, who was slain for all of us (Revelation 5:5). Right now, there are wars between nations with much talk and debate about those wars, as well as borders. Regardless of where you stand on these current events and issues, it’s important to remember these verses teach us Jesus died for every tribe, language, people, and nation. Jesus came for everyone who will believe and give their heart and life to Him.

“And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation,”

Revelation 5:9

As we watch and read the news, let us pray for Christians everywhere, and let us pray for the Holy Spirit to reach those who are not yet Christ followers. Let us remember that God is sovereign and the Holy Spirit has no boundaries and will not stop until every tribe, language, people, and nation know Jesus and confess that He is their Lord and Savior.

Unwavering Faith

Today’s reading is Daniel 2 where we read of Daniel interpreting King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream which saved the lives of him others who the king was going to kill because they could not interpret his dream, as well as which led to the king declaring Daniel’s God to be the one true God (Daniel 2:47) and led to him giving Daniel and his friends rulers over provinces in Babylon (Daniel 2:48-49).

In Daniel 1, we read things were very bleak for Daniel and those jews who were of royalty or with a great physical appearance or knowledge, and really all jews for that matter, because King Nebuchadnezzar and Babylon besieged Jerusalem and brought many like Daniel and his friends in exile to Babylon. We see in both Daniel 1, and here in Daniel 2, that Daniel was convicted in his faith and trusted in God’s sovereignty despite circumstances.

Daniel’s trust and belief in God’s sovereignty is apparent in Daniel 2:16 where he made a request to the king that he would interpret the king’s dream before he actually had interpreted it. Then, he gives us another great example of what to do under the most dire circumstances, he asked his friends to seek God’s mercy, presumably through prayer, in Daniel 2:18. In Daniel 2:19, only after Daniel shows conviction and faith in God’s control and protection and has them come to God in prayer, the dream is revealed to him.

How does Daniel then respond once God reveals the interpretation of the dream to him? He gives glory to God in Daniel 2:21-23 and gives all the credit to God to King Nebuchadnezzar directly in Daniel 2:28 saying, “but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has made to know to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days…” As a result of this, King Nebuchadnezzar, a pagan, glorifies God, “The king answered and said to Daniel, ‘Truly your God is God of gods and Lord of kings, and a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this mystery.’”

Daniel gives us a great example of faith and trust in God’s sovereignty and goodness in the most dire of circumstances, as well as an example of giving Him the credit and the glory.

This causes us to reflect and ask ourselves, what are circumstances I am facing now where I need to come to God in prayer and trust in God’s power and sovereignty in the outcome?

“To Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations for ever and ever! Amen.

Ephesians 3:20-21