Right From The Heart

IS GOD UNFAIR?
Bryant Wright, Founder

“So the last shall be first, and the first last.” Matthew 20:16

"It’s not fair!"

Raising three sons, we heard this phrase a lot. Whether one of our boys believed a brother was getting a better deal or complaining about a friend’s apparent freedom, all parents have fought this comparison battle.

Yet, we tend to do the same with God. When we look at the world and see all the injustice we face, it’s easy to wonder - where is God in the equation?

Is God unfair?

Jesus tells a parable that speaks to this very issue of fairness. A landowner is looking for help harvesting his vineyard. So, he hires day workers for a long, 12-hour day. The day's wage was one denarius.

A few hours later, the landowner decides he needs more help. Finding more workers, he offers them the job. Towards the end of the day, around 5 pm, the landowner hires a few more guys to work the last hour of sunlight.

Finally, with the day’s work completed, it’s pay time. This is when things get interesting. Starting with the last guys hired, he pays the men who worked just one hour a full day’s wage. They were shocked. They knew they didn’t deserve it, but you can imagine their excitement.

The other workers surely begin to imagine how much their half-day and full day’s work must be worth – certainly much more than a denarius. But, the landowner pays them all the same thing – the one denarius.

Imagine how frustrated the full-day workers felt – It’s not fair! However, the landowner had given them exactly what was promised. He basically says, “Look, guys, this is my money. And if I want to be generous to others, I can – even if they don’t deserve it.”

Now, what is Jesus trying to tell us?

Jesus is saying that the reward for following Him is the same, no matter when a person responds to God's call to follow Him.

Heaven is the reward for the lifelong believer, as well as the person who trusts Christ on their deathbed.

He offers His grace and forgiveness that none of us deserve. This is the gift of grace.

So, is God unfair? Absolutely not. He is pure, and fair, and just.

Have you received the reward He offers?

DIG DEEPER
Read "That's Not Fair!" byGeorge Wright: https://rightfromtheheart.org/devotions/thats-not-fair/

LOVING WITHOUT CONDITION
Bryant Wright, Founder

“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.” Ephesians 5:25

We talk about love in many ways: romantic love, erotic love, and friendship love.

The love used in the biblical description of the family calls for husbands to choose to love their wives – no matter what.

Now, what does it mean to choose to love?

This kind of love is a commitment to love, no matter the response. It’s always easy to love someone who loves us back. When someone shows us kindness and offers words of encouragement and affirmation, they are easier to love.

But, to love someone in the midst of conflict, in disappointment - even when it hurts – well, that kind of love is tough to show.

In the biblical description of "family," the husband is called to be committed to his wife. To be respectful. To love and to forgive, despite what may have happened. In the first century, this was radically counter-cultural.

Just as the Word of God applied to the first century, the Word of God applies to the 21st century. It is timeless.

Remember, the major responsibility for making a marriage work lies with the husband. We’re called to love our wives as Christ loved the church. And Christ died for the church.

This is a tall order because, as sinful, imperfect beings, it is an overwhelming challenge to love our wives as Christ does His church. Think about His death on the cross – for you, for me, “while we were still sinners, Christ died.” Talk about loving without condition!

So, ask God to help you choose to love, even when it hurts.

Start today. Just as Christ faithfully loves us day in and day out without condition, ask Him to help you begin to love with His love.

THE THUNDEROUS GLORY OF GOD
Jonathan Munson, Executive Director

“The God of glory thunders…the voice of the Lord strikes with flashes of lightning.”
Psalm 29:3,7

Imagine you’re enjoying a day at the beach with your family.

Then, in the distance, you notice dark, ominous clouds hovering over the water. A bolt of lightning strikes the horizon. The waves grow larger as the wind whips up the sand, threatening to blow the hat right off your head. You scramble to gather your belongings as thunder shakes the ground and the rain begins to fall.

While David wasn’t on vacation when he wrote Psalm 29, you get the sense that he was watching a thunderstorm move inward from the Mediterranean Sea toward the coast of Israel. He wrote: “The Lord thunders over the waters, the voice of the Lord is powerful” (Psalm 29:3,4).

What is it about a thunderstorm that reminds David of the glory and grandeur of God?

Thunderstorms are among the most powerful and awe-inspiring natural phenomena we can witness. Being in the presence of a massive storm is humbling. We feel small, out of control, and acutely aware of our limitations.

Perhaps David wanted us to bring this perspective into how we approach Almighty God.

After all, the Maker of the storm is far more glorious than the storm itself. As Tony Evans explains, “We must remember that such a spectacular display is not the work of so-called Mother Nature but of Father God. And we must give the Lord the exaltation that He deserves.”

Looking through the wider lens of the entire Bible, we see that God’s presence is often accompanied by a powerful storm.

Consider Moses going up the mountain to receive the Ten Commandments: “There was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain” (Exodus 19:16).

Or Ezekiel coming face to face with God’s glory: “I looked and I saw a windstorm coming out of the north, an immense cloud with flashing lightning and brilliant light” (Ezekiel 1:4).

Or John, exiled on the island of Patmos, trying to describe the throne of heaven: “From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder” (Revelation 4:5).

Ask yourself: Given such awe-inspiring descriptions, what would be the appropriate way to come before God’s throne?

In reverence?

In humility?

In surrender?

Yes, to all of the above.

I don’t know about you, but I often come before the Lord too casually, not fully respecting His greatness. I flip through my Bible and rush through my prayers. I ask Him to bless my plans as if I’m the one in charge of Him, not the other way around.

That’s why I’m grateful for David’s words. Like a sudden boom of thunder in the middle of the night, Psalm 29 jolts me out of my self-absorption and reminds me that there is only One who is truly worthy of glory.

And when God really wanted to show off His glory, He echoed the cry of Jesus days before His crucifixion: “Father, glorify Your name!” Then a voice came from heaven, ‘I have glorified it and will glorify it again.’ The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered…” (John 12:28,29).

So, the next time we see menacing clouds in the sky and hear thunder rattle the heavens, may we think to ourselves, “That’s the ‘Voice of the Lord!’” (Psalm 29:3-9) And thank Jesus for making a way to approach His thunderous throne “with freedom and confidence” (Ephesians 3:12).

DIG DEEPER
Read "What is the Glory of God?" at GotQuestions.org: https://www.gotquestions.org/glory-of-God.html

THE QUEST FOR TRUE SATISFACTION
Bryant Wright

“When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, ‘Will you give me a drink?’ (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, 'You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?' (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) Jesus answered her, ‘If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.’ 'Sir,' the woman said, 'you have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?' Jesus answered, ‘Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.’ The woman said to him, 'Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.'”
John 4:7-15

In the pursuit of life's treasures, we often find ourselves on a quest akin to Juan Ponce de Leon's search for the Fountain of Youth.

Like him, we chase after the fleeting promises of this world, longing for something that can grant us eternal fulfillment. But just as Ponce de Leon sought in vain, we too often find ourselves empty, grasping at mirages that vanish with each passing moment. As the Rolling Stones' Mick Jagger sings, “I can’t get no satisfaction.”

Yet, amidst our search, a wellspring of living water stands, beckoning us to partake in its eternal refreshment. Jesus, sitting by the well, extends an invitation not just to quench our physical thirst but to satisfy the deeper longings of our souls. He offers us the living water that springs to eternal life, a source of true and lasting fulfillment.

Just as Jesus crossed cultural barriers to speak with the Samaritan woman in John 4, He crosses the barriers of our hearts, reaching out to us in our moments of need. He meets us in our humanity, acknowledging our thirst for something more than this world can offer.

And just as He led the Samaritan woman from cluelessness to salvation, He leads us from the shallowness of worldly pursuits to the depths of spiritual satisfaction.

Let us heed His call to "worship in spirit and truth" (John 4:24), casting aside the empty promises of this world and embracing the abundant life found in Him.

Like the Samaritan woman, may we leave behind our water pots of worldly desires and become heralds of the living water, inviting others to taste and see that the Lord is good.

Jesus is like a cool drink of water on a hot, dusty day. He quenches our thirst for life – forever!

DIG DEEPER
Read "Ultimate Joy = Satisfaction" also by Bryant Wright: https://rightfromtheheart.org/devotions/ultimate-joy-satisfaction/

THE DANGER OF IGNORING SIN
Bryant Wright, Founder

"And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell." Mark 9:45

In this scripture, Jesus makes a pretty radical statement: "And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off."

Obviously, His statement is not meant to be taken literally. Rather, He's speaking of radical spiritual surgery.

In other words, it's intentionally cutting out the areas of sin or spiritual decay in our lives.

Perhaps, Jesus was referring to "feet" that tend to run towards activities that do not align with God's best for our lives. Or it could be "feet" that tend to run from responsibility or accountability.

We don't know exactly what Jesus was referring to in this verse, but we know that He was using this analogy to communicate the very real danger of ignoring sin in our lives.

One of my favorite books to this day is Lonesome Dove. In one scene, Gus is shot in the leg, and gangrene sets in. The doctor tells him that amputating his leg is the only way to save his life. Left untreated, the infection will kill him. Even Gus' best friend pleads with him to let the doctor cut off the leg; however, Gus refuses. Sure enough, he soon succumbs to the infection. Because he wasn't willing to deal with the infection in his leg, he lost his life.

Sometimes a sin is so dangerous that if left "untreated," it can eventually fatally infect our soul.

Take an inventory of your life. Where are you living from your own strength or for your own glory, rather than God's? Ask God to reveal the areas in your life where you need the Great Physician to perform radical spiritual surgery.

Start today and experience the freedom that comes from walking in God's will, free from the chains of sin.

DIG DEEPER
Read "The Negative Consequences of Sin" also by Bryant Wright: https://rightfromtheheart.org/devotions/the-negative-consequences-of-sin/

WALK BY FAITH
Taken from a sermon by Bryant Wright, Founder

“By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place, which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going.” Hebrews 11:8

God gave Abraham quite a challenge!

He was called to go but was not told the destination.

So by faith Abraham went out. This was a calling like no other. Because God called him to have faith. To trust. And Abraham did just that.

In fact, Abraham’s obedience is one of the best examples of faith in the Bible.

What is the definition of faith? The Bible says it best:

“Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen." (Hebrews 11:1).

Think about it. God speaks in numerous ways, but the primary way we hear from God is through His Word. Unlike you and me, Abraham didn’t have a Bible. (We have it so much easier.) We don’t know how God spoke to Abraham. Was it through a dream, or an audible voice? However it was, God told him his mission and commanded him to go. And based solely on an act of faith, Abraham was willing to do so.

You are probably aware that Right From The Heart Ministries is based in Atlanta. Pastoring in the Atlanta area for close to 40 years, I saw many out-of-town transplants. These were men and women who had been moved to Atlanta from other cities. One of the prominent companies that transferred many people to metro Atlanta was IBM. The joke was that IBM stands for I’ve Been Moved. Anybody with IBM already knew it was just part of working there.

So, think about it this way. Susan is working with IBM in Chicago. Her supervisor comes to her and says, “Susan, we are going to send you to a new place.” She says, “Well, okay. Where?” “Well, I can’t tell you. But I want you to sell your house. Go home and tell your family—you’re going to head southwest and keep your cellphone on because we'll let you know when you get where you are supposed to go.”

Can you imagine!

Susan might really like her company, but it would take an unusual level of trust on her part to make that kind of move.

Similarly, Abraham was called by God to a place, not knowing where God was leading him, yet he obeyed, completely trusting Him with his life and future.

God might not be asking you to relocate, but maybe there is another area of obedience where He is calling you to be faithful - to trust Him.

Maybe it’s to be more generous with your finances.

Perhaps it’s to have a gospel conversation with a neighbor.

Or it could even be to spend less time on social media and more time with family and reading the Word.

Whatever He is calling you to do, will you be like Abraham and walk in obedience by faith?

And if your name is Susan, maybe God is actually calling you to make that big change in your life.

Intentionally and with purpose, spend alone time with God. With your heart open, honest, and full of trust, He will show you which way to go.

All you have to do is get up and walk by faith.

DIG DEEPER
Read "It's All About Living Out Our Faith" also by Bryant Wright: https://rightfromtheheart.org/devotions/its-all-about-living-out-our-faith/

THE BIBLE DARES YOU TO FILL IN THE BLANKS
Michael Kelley, Guest Contributor

“The teaching of your word gives light, so even the simple can understand.” Psalm 119:130 NLT

Once upon a time, I loved Mad Libs.

If you don’t remember this particular cultural phenomenon, Mad Libs was a book of short, simple stories. Each story had several blank lines marked with a part of speech—noun, verb, adjective, etc. One person would interview another and ask them for random nouns, verbs, adjectives, and the like to fill in the blanks. Ultimately, you would have a story with the blanks filled in but with random words that didn’t always fit.

The results were predictably hilarious because you could fill in the blanks with virtually anything and sometimes bizarre words. Sure, the story would end up nonsensical, but that was the point. It was to think of the most outlandish ways to fill in those blanks and then sit back and enjoy how it all came together.

Wouldn’t it be nice if life were a little like that? That you could fill in the blanks?

In such a world, you might say, “For dinner tonight, I’m going to have ___________.” And you could put anything in that blank that you wanted. Or you could say, “I’m going to take a trip to __________,” and you would magically be able to visit that place. Of course, life doesn’t work that way. Many limitations and exceptions keep us from filling in those blanks—time, money, and access – all limit how they can be filled in.

So, we know life doesn’t work like that, but maybe the Bible does. At least in a sense.

In fact, maybe the Bible invites us – even dares us – to fill in some of the blanks.

Take, for example, Romans 8:28:

“We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.”

We are invited to drill down on “all things” and do our best to fill in that blank. Sickness? Trouble? Job loss? Those are all big, significant, life-changing things, and you can fill in the blanks with them. But you can also fill in the blank with traffic, interruptions to your schedule, or an awkward dinnertime conversation. Those are small things. In either case, fill in the blank because everything does work together for our good. But don’t forget the rest of the verse, “…of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” The rest of the verse changes everything.

Or this from 1 Corinthians 10:13:

“No temptation has come upon you except what is common to humanity. But God is faithful; he will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation, he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to bear it.”

Fill in the blank with whatever temptation you are facing today. It still works, without exception, because no matter what happens, God will always provide the way for you to get through it.

Of course, we could go on, and there would be many more blanks to be filled in. But be assured that the blanks can always be filled in because of God's certainty, unchanging nature, and rock-solid promises to us through Christ.

Despite our best efforts to find the exception, we cannot.

We will not.

And praise the Lord, we can’t.

DIG DEEPER
Read "Why is Understanding the Bible Important?" at GotQuestions.org: https://www.gotquestions.org/understanding-the-Bible.html

JUDGED NOT JUST BY OUR ACTIONS
Bryant Wright, Founder

"You have heard that the ancients were told, 'You shall not commit murder' and 'Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.' But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, 'You good for nothing!' shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, 'You fool,' shall be guilty enough to go into fiery hell." Matthew 5:21-22

God doesn't mince words when it comes to the Ten Commandments.

For example, He tells us that we shouldn't murder. Most of us breathe a sigh of relief on this one, knowing we've probably never actually killed anyone. (I can hear you exclaiming, "Hey, I got one right!" as you check one off the list.)

While that commandment does seem to be clear-cut, Jesus raised the bar. He explains how God's standards are even higher than man's. He tells us that not only is murder a sin, but even thinking about it is, as well!

Now, this makes it a little tougher.

Jesus says that God weighs whether our hearts and thoughts are in line. If we lose our cool with someone and start calling them names, we're in danger of hell because we have broken this commandment on murder! Now that seems unfair, doesn't it?

But Jesus is clear. God doesn't just judge us by our actions but also by our thoughts and the desires of our hearts.

So, who among us can pass that test?

None of us.

The Ten Commandments remind us that we all need a Savior.

Fortunately, Jesus has paid the penalty for our sins.

To accept this sacrifice, you must agree to turn your life over to Him and accept His priceless gift of forgiveness.

Have you?

Will you?

DIG DEEPER
Read "Who is the Lord Over Your Reactions?" by Jonathan Munson: https://rightfromtheheart.org/devotions/who-is-the-lord-over-your-reactions/

THE ECHO OF “I AM”
Taken from a sermon by Bryant Wright, Founder

“Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”
John 6:35

In a world full of fleeting distractions and changing times, the constancy of God’s nature is captured in His name, "I AM."

“I AM” offers profound comfort and stability. It says to me that His majesty and holiness are so great that they are indescribable.

Jesus repeatedly used “I AM” to describe Himself in the gospel of John. Every "I AM" statement of Jesus in the New Testament further cements this promise, showing us the different ways God meets our needs.

Jesus said:

1. I AM the Bread of Life (John 6:35).
2. I AM the Light of the World (John 8:12).
3. I AM the Door (John 10:9).
4. I AM the Good Shepherd (John 10:11).
5. I AM the Resurrection and the Life (John 11:25).

The name “I AM,” revealed to Moses at the burning bush, signifies an unchanging and everlasting presence. It reassures us that God remains constant no matter the turbulence in our lives or the chaos in the world.

Think of the times when you felt lost or overwhelmed and how realizing God’s unchangeable nature provided comfort. God’s identity as "I AM" encompasses His eternal presence, not just in the grand scheme of history but in the intimate details of our lives.

As you face today’s challenges, remember "I AM" is with you. His presence is a sanctuary, a place of safety, firmness, and stability. He offers Himself to be the anchor of your soul.

Carry this assurance into your relationships, decisions, and dreams, knowing that when you trust in “I AM,” the eternal God walks with you every step of the way.

DIG DEEPER
Read "What Did Jesus Mean When He Said, 'I AM?'" at GotQuestions.org: https://www.gotquestions.org/I-AM.html

CASTING A POSITIVE SHADOW
Taken from a sermon by Bryant Wright, Founder

“Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by.”
Acts 5:14-15

When we read Acts 5:14-15, we are reminded of Peter's profound influence on the early church.

Multitudes were added to their number, for wherever Peter went, his life cast a long shadow for good – for Jesus.

Just like Peter, we all have influence over others, whether it's in our families, workplaces, or communities. The question is, what kind of influence are we having? Are we building others up or tearing them down? Do we encourage or discourage? Are we pointing them to Jesus or leading them away?

It's easy to underestimate our impact on those around us. Like a shadow, our influence goes with us wherever we go, and it always falls on others, never ourselves, whether we realize it or not. Just as my grandfather's shadow fell over my dad and my father's shadow fell over me, our lives have a ripple effect that extends far beyond ourselves.

But here's the good news: no matter what kind of shadow we've cast in the past, it's never too late to cast a shadow for good. What could be worse than Peter denying Christ three times? Yet he was transformed after he encountered Jesus after His resurrection through having his “Come to Jesus” talk by the sea of Galilee (John 21:15-25). We, too, can experience this forgiveness and redemption.

Jesus offers us a new beginning, a chance to cast a positive shadow that points others to Him.

So, the question is: What kind of shadow do you cast? For good or for evil? To build up or tear down? For Jesus or self? What kind of shadow do you cast?

Let's be encouraged to embrace God's forgiveness and redemption in our lives, allowing His grace to transform us from the inside out so we can live as bold and courageous followers of Jesus, casting a positive shadow wherever we go.

What kind of shadow do you cast?

DIG DEEPER
Read "What Was in the Shadow of Peter that Heale: https://www.gotquestions.org/Peter-shadow.html