Kids can be very cruel. They notice imperfections better than the average person. They don’t forget them; and they don’t let you forget them, either. Crooked noses, freckles, big ears, frizzy hair, eyeglasses, birthmarks, and anything else which is considered to be outside the realm of “normal” is open game for their verbal assaults. Only genuine love can penetrate the snide, careless remarks and give a victimized child a fresh sense of self-worth. In her book, The Whisper Test, Mary Ann Bird, who has a cleft palate, revealed a turning point in her childhood struggle with ostracism in school, “Mrs. Leonard gave the [hearing] test to everyone in the class, and finally it was my turn. . . . I waited there for those words that God must have put into her mouth, those seven words that changed my life. Mrs. Leonard said in her whisper, ‘I wish you were my little girl.’”

Mary Ann might have had classmates who didn’t like her, but none of that mattered when she found a teacher who genuinely loved her. The same is true of Christians who struggle with rejection and ostracism from the world and their Christian peers. People who do not like us may speak against us and try to harm us. They may attempt to undermine our character. Others will disappoint us. God’s love is a game changer which keeps us in contention when the race’s outcome is not in our favor. He is cheering us on when everyone else is crying for our defeat. He loves us.

Are you disappointed because others have ridiculed you on account of your shortcomings or “differences”? Maybe you feel like no one understands or cares about your circumstances. You are disgusted with others’ inconsistency and insensitivity. Life is too short to worry about people who do not care about us. Instead, let’s concentrate on the One who really does care and understand — God. He loves us just the way we are — and His love will never change.

Devotional by Pastor Jim Scudder, Jr.

When we are hurting, we don’t need the God of Christian textbooks. We need the God of the Bible. In Living by God’s Surprises, Harold Myra wrote of an experience his pastor had with a woman who had lost a close friend. The pastor gave her all of his seminary knowledge about how and why God let it happen. “I don’t need a God like that,” she said. “I don’t need to understand all this. What I need is a God who is bigger than my mind.”

The God of Christian textbooks is sadly very limited. While the textbooks may talk about His sovereignty over everything that happens, His power, His love, His goodness, and His mercy, they can’t provide answers which will really help someone in a crisis. Hurting people need more than intellectual talk about God to comfort them. They need a God who is bigger than their minds — a God they can believe in.

Experiencing heartbreak and pain reminds us of the important part faith plays in our Christian life. The great majority of faith is directly tied to our personal relationship with God. Where faith is present, we don’t have to have an explanation for our circumstances. We don’t have to know all the answers when problems come. Faith convinces us that God is even bigger than our comprehension. In the darkness, it helps us see the God we believe in.

You might have just been diagnosed with a terrible, incurable disease. Maybe you recently lost a loved one. Your job has folded. Your family has hurt you. You feel like giving up on God and Christianity because of your heartbreak. Friend, this is where your faith must shine the brightest. The tiniest grain of faith was enough to save you for all eternity. Hold onto it, and it will sustain you through the hardships you are facing today. You may never understand it all. You don’t need to. You have a God who is bigger than your mind — a God you can believe in.

Devotional by Dr. James A. Scudder

If we do not approach the study of God’s Word honestly and with realistic expectations, then we are like the man who searched for honey only to find a loaf of bread. One of the popular (but Biblically inaccurate) trends in Christendom years ago was for ministers to apply every text in the Bible to their distinct theological position. For example, one distinguished minister announced his text and introduced his sermon as follows:

“So, Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem: for he did eat at the king’s table; and he was lame on both his feet.” [2 Kings 9:13]

My brethren, we are here taught the doctrine of human depravity: Mephibosheth “was lame.” Also the doctrine of total depravity: “he was lame on both his feet.” Also the doctrine of justification: for he “dwelt in Jerusalem.” Fourth, the doctrine of adoption: “he did eat at the king’s table.” Fifth, the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints: for we read that “he did eat at the king’s table continually.”

While there are many doctrines found throughout the pages of Scripture, we must be very careful about digging too deeply into a given text and attaching a meaning which God never intended. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable. Instead of looking for something new or skewing the meaning of a given text to make it fit our belief system, we will profit most when we interpret the Word of God in its literal sense. Many fundamentally sound scholars have pored through the Scriptures before us. Is it not better to draw from their years of study than to waste time inventing our own interpretations? Of course it is. Simple is best.

The best way to learn God’s Word is to study it with an obedient, prayerful heart. As you read a passage, consider if there is any principle you can apply to an issue in your life. Ask yourself if God is calling you to change your thoughts or actions. If the passage doesn’t address a spiritual need, then find one that does. Simple is best. The Word of God will not return void.

Devotional by Pastor Jim Scudder, Jr.

If you have a spiritual gift, then you won’t have to tell anybody else. They will see it for themselves. I once had a man come to me and ask if he could teach an adult Sunday School class. Supposedly God had told him he had the spiritual gift of teaching.

I answered, “If God tells me that you have the gift of teaching, then I’ll let you teach the adult Sunday School; but until then, I have a class of 3rd graders who can use a Sunday School teacher.” For some strange reason, the man didn’t feel called to teach this age group.

Then there was the time during a building project when I needed someone to handle several different jobs. I had asked one of our men to complete a task for me. When he did the job well, I gave him two more jobs. He took care of these responsibilities, and I was able to give him more and more responsibility. I noticed that the more I gave this man to do, the better he did at getting the job done. I sensed he had a gift in organization and multitasking. I have never been disappointed with the choice I made to appoint him as one of my assistants.

A person who has a true spiritual gift will use it in any way God wants him to use it — no advertising is necessary. This person always gives his best, even when he isn’t doing something he particularly likes to do. He has a true servant’s heart which is surrendered to the will of God. His attitude is, “If God wants me to do it, then I’ll give it my best effort — anywhere, anything, anytime.”

Are you reluctant to use your spiritual gifts because of your desire for personal gain? Maybe you think singing in the choir isn’t as glamorous as singing a solo or teaching children isn’t as important as teaching adults. I’ve got news for you: anything you do for Christ is guaranteed a reward. If you are faithful to use your spiritual gifts in the little things, then you won’t have to advertise. Everyone will see and appreciate them firsthand.

Devotional by Dr. James A. Scudder

Sometimes we need a little help bringing our assets to light. The poet Elizabeth Goldring had developed blindness as an adult. One day during an eye exam, a doctor tested her eyes with a laser device called a scanning laser ophthalmoscope. In the middle of the test, Goldring noticed that the laser allowed her to “see” certain images.

After further experiments, Goldring discovered that the laser projected faces and words on the retina of her eyes which she could see. This led researchers to conclude that many blind people have parts of their retinas which can sense visual information when it is projected directly onto their retinas by a laser.

Like Elizabeth Goldring, many Christians are blind to their spiritual gifts. They use these gifts on a regular basis, but they are unaware of them. Sometimes other Christians have to help “open their eyes” by encouraging them to get involved in areas where their gifts will shine the brightest and build up others. As each Christian is made to realize his spiritual gifts, the entire local church and the Body of Christ will profit.

Do you recognize another Christian’s spiritual gifts which are not being put to use? They may not even be aware they possess any gifts at all. Encourage them by telling them what a blessing they are to others when they do the things God has gifted them to do: singing, managing, teaching, ushering, greeting, keeping peace between people in conflict, encouraging, or helping others. Tell them about opportunities in which they can use their God-given abilities to serve others. You may be the one who helps them see their spiritual gift — and take it out of the box.

Devotional by Dr. James A. Scudder

No one has ever built a Lego castle (or a Lego Taj Mahal, a Lego model of London’s Trafalgar Square, or a Lego city, for that matter) with only one Lego piece. Any Lego creation requires hundreds or even thousands of Lego pieces put together. The pieces come in different colors and sizes. Each piece is different in function and prominence. Each piece has an important part to play in building the whole.

The same is true of believers with their spiritual gifts. Every church is made up of different people, each with unique, God-given abilities. Some people have the gift of preaching or teaching. Others are gifted in different aspects of ministry such as administration or music. All have an important part to play, and yet none is great in himself. These people must be willing to work together and use their combined gifts and abilities, or else the church will not properly function.

Do you appreciate the spiritual gifts in others, or does jealousy make you critical of them and keep you from working with them? If you understand the concept behind Lego blocks, then you will see the gifts God has given you and others from the right perspective. It doesn’t matter what part you play in the big picture. It doesn’t matter if you are a foundation stone or a side wall. It doesn’t matter if everyone can see you as you exercise your gift, or if you are hidden from view. God has given you your unique abilities for a specific purpose. The building won’t function right without you. Every Lego counts.

Devotional by Dr. James A. Scudder