March Madness

March Madness. Have you filled out your bracket yet? The NCAA men's basketball tournament is set to begin. Filled with upsets, excitement, and last second game-winning shots, they call it "madness."

They mean the term impishly, of course. But have you given thought to true madness before? Perhaps you have seen the destructive force of mental illness in your family or in the family of someone you care about. The human brain is so fascinating, many different branches of both hard and soft science have been born in the study of it.

Yet after decades of advanced science has literally and figuratively placed the brain under the microscope, most admit there is still so much we have yet to understand when it comes to the brain. This is especially true when it is clear that something is not right or balanced in the brain.

Madness. Although some apply the term capriciously, there remains a grim visage of true madness. Have you seen it? Have you gazed into the vacant or raging eyes of madness?

Our teacher has, on more than one occasion. These words are from Ecclesiastes. God-given and God-inspired words from King Solomon invite us to learn the truth about life without God:

"Then I applied myself to the understanding

of wisdom, and also of madness and folly,

but I learned that this, too, is a chasing

after the wind

For with much wisdom comes much sorrow;

the more knowledge, the more grief."

Such a lesson was refined by the fire of life experience in Solomon's life, leading to the conclusion of the matter:

"I know that there is nothing better for men

than to be happy and do good while they live.

That everyone may eat and drink, and find

satisfaction in all his toil— this is the gift of

God.

I know that everything God does will endure

forever; nothing can be added to it

and nothing taken from it. God does it so that

men will revere him."

Centering our minds, hearts, and lives in our loving and forgiving God, then, is the height of wisdom and sanity, then. Because God's love pushed him to send his Only Son as our substitue, living a perfect life in our place and enduring the punishment for our sin--everything God has done for us will endure forever. Just as his love for us--for you--will endure forever.

Such a lesson reveals the folly of ignoring God, refusing him, or trying to explain Him away. Such acts display true and eternal madness.

Prayer Idea: pray for those in your family or circle of friends, co-workers, neighbors who are struggling with the madness of rejecting God or ignoring God. Pray for someone you know who is battling with some form of mental health issue. Pray "selfishly" for practical wisdom for yourself as well as spiritual wisdom from God through his Word.

And remember, "It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God— that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption."

--Pastor Dan

Feel free to browse the archived devotions on the list to the left.

If you have any ideas, suggestions,

or feedback, please e-mail me:

peaceinjesus@clearwire.net

pastor@peaceinjesus4vietnamese.org

Nhà Thờ Bình An Trong Chúa Jêsus Peace In Jesus Lutheran Church

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Sharing God's Word with the Vietnamese Community in the Treasure Valley and beyond