September 30
The unbeliever has no conflict. The unbeliever walks after his flesh to fulfill all its lusts. He goes where he wants, does what he wants, pursues what he wants. Whatever his eyes or his passion desire, his energy will be directed toward obtaining it.
The believer who focuses on Jesus and His Kingdom’s purposes with a single eye has no conflict. He endeavors to please the Lord and to fulfill His will with the entirety of his life. He directs his energy toward the attainment of the mission of Christ within the inner man and in external circumstances.
The ‘soulish Christian,’ on the other hand is the believer who yearns for the things of time as much as or more than he desires the purposes of the Lord. It is this type of individual who is identified in Galatians 5:15-18. Of such it is said that they, “bite and devour one another…”
“…Walk in the Spirit and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. The flesh and the Spirit are contrary…but if you are under the Spirit, you are not under the law.” To be surrendered to the Holy Spirit of the Living God is to be at peace with Him and thereby at peace with yourself, to be without conflict in His purposes.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Powerful, Undeniable Prayer
September 29
The Lord Jesus Christ, who cannot fail and cannot lie makes an astounding promise in Matthew 21:22. Here He says, “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” That’s a very straight forward assertion regarding the power that is afforded to the person of faith.
The key word, believe, conveys much. It involves embracing the claims of the Lord, it involves knowing who He is and what He stands for. It requires that in understanding Him, the believer empathizes with all that His character and person entail.
The one who knows Christ as Savior and Lord will align the things for which he asks in prayer with the will of God. The one who prays, believing in the integrity of the One who promised and in the veracity of His message will not ask for any thing that would be counter to the Lord’s ministry or to His will.
The person who truly understands and believes and embraces the Truth that is Christ will ask nothing amiss or for selfish gain. The motivation of his asking will be to further the purpose of the Lord in the establishment of His Kingdom within the hearts of men—and that is a powerful prayer that will not be denied.
The Lord Jesus Christ, who cannot fail and cannot lie makes an astounding promise in Matthew 21:22. Here He says, “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” That’s a very straight forward assertion regarding the power that is afforded to the person of faith.
The key word, believe, conveys much. It involves embracing the claims of the Lord, it involves knowing who He is and what He stands for. It requires that in understanding Him, the believer empathizes with all that His character and person entail.
The one who knows Christ as Savior and Lord will align the things for which he asks in prayer with the will of God. The one who prays, believing in the integrity of the One who promised and in the veracity of His message will not ask for any thing that would be counter to the Lord’s ministry or to His will.
The person who truly understands and believes and embraces the Truth that is Christ will ask nothing amiss or for selfish gain. The motivation of his asking will be to further the purpose of the Lord in the establishment of His Kingdom within the hearts of men—and that is a powerful prayer that will not be denied.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
The Allure of Time
September 28
The evil one does not stand idly by when a man who has been caught within his snare of sin, who has been living a life that was moving along the conveyor belt to hell, hears the gospel of Jesus Christ and escapes the flame of the pit toward which he was bound.
In Mark 4:25, Jesus tells us that when the seeds of the knowledge of truth and life are sown into a heart, satan, “…immediately comes and takes away the word that was planted in them.”
Immediately. Someone, something, some circumstance will interject itself into the life of the newly saved, infant believer, and he will question his decision. He will wonder at the wisdom of turning his back on old friends, old habits, old pursuits. He will weigh all he’s lost with the potential of what he’ll gain eternally.
If he wants to live for Jesus, he will long to appropriate for himself all the promises that are now his, but he may be like the rich young ruler (Luke 18:18-24) who esteems the treasure of earth to be greater than that of eternity and is snared by the evil one because of his affinity for the allure of the things of time.
The evil one does not stand idly by when a man who has been caught within his snare of sin, who has been living a life that was moving along the conveyor belt to hell, hears the gospel of Jesus Christ and escapes the flame of the pit toward which he was bound.
In Mark 4:25, Jesus tells us that when the seeds of the knowledge of truth and life are sown into a heart, satan, “…immediately comes and takes away the word that was planted in them.”
Immediately. Someone, something, some circumstance will interject itself into the life of the newly saved, infant believer, and he will question his decision. He will wonder at the wisdom of turning his back on old friends, old habits, old pursuits. He will weigh all he’s lost with the potential of what he’ll gain eternally.
If he wants to live for Jesus, he will long to appropriate for himself all the promises that are now his, but he may be like the rich young ruler (Luke 18:18-24) who esteems the treasure of earth to be greater than that of eternity and is snared by the evil one because of his affinity for the allure of the things of time.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Unexercised Spiritual Power
September 27
Romans 12:3 tells us that God has given to every man a measure of faith. It does not suggest that it is the same measure given to each man or that it is not an equal measure. The important thing isn’t the amount of faith a man has but how he uses it.
In fact, in Matthew 17:20, Jesus says, “If you have faith the size of a grain of mustard seed, you will tell this mountain, ‘Move from here and be cast into the sea,’ and it will be done.”
A mustard seed is the smallest of all seeds, so by extrapolation, Jesus is saying if we have even a miniscule amount of faith, we will be able to do mighty spiritual exploits.
Why then do we not see great miracles abounding? Perhaps the answer is as simple as the reality that we live our lives so preoccupied with the temporal that we neglect to exercise the spiritual power that is ours.
Romans 12:3 tells us that God has given to every man a measure of faith. It does not suggest that it is the same measure given to each man or that it is not an equal measure. The important thing isn’t the amount of faith a man has but how he uses it.
In fact, in Matthew 17:20, Jesus says, “If you have faith the size of a grain of mustard seed, you will tell this mountain, ‘Move from here and be cast into the sea,’ and it will be done.”
A mustard seed is the smallest of all seeds, so by extrapolation, Jesus is saying if we have even a miniscule amount of faith, we will be able to do mighty spiritual exploits.
Why then do we not see great miracles abounding? Perhaps the answer is as simple as the reality that we live our lives so preoccupied with the temporal that we neglect to exercise the spiritual power that is ours.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Neither Blessings Nor Hardship
September 26
When we are safely within the fold of faith, our worries are over, right? We would like to hope so. We would like to embrace the ideology of the ‘prosperity gospel’ that tells us that once we’ve accepted Jesus the path ahead of us will wend through some beautiful, secure places.
But that ignores the evidence of the scriptures where we see each apostle (other than John who died of old age on the Isle of Patmos after being exiled there) being cruelly tortured and executed because of his unswerving faith in the Christ whose person and whose gospel he loved better than life.
It negates the evidence of the lives of people of faith through the centuries who have endured hardship and pain and ostracism and death because they counted Jesus and His Word the Bible to be the only Truth in a world of lies. And they esteemed that Truth to be worthy of their own lives if that became the price they had to pay to embrace it.
Jesus warns us through His admonition to Peter in Luke 22:31, 32, “Simon, look out! Satan has asked to sift you like wheat that he may destroy you, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail.” That prayer covers us, too. Jesus desires that we be strong for Him, that we not allow either the blessings or the hardships of the Christian life to cause us to divert our eyes from Him who is Life.
When we are safely within the fold of faith, our worries are over, right? We would like to hope so. We would like to embrace the ideology of the ‘prosperity gospel’ that tells us that once we’ve accepted Jesus the path ahead of us will wend through some beautiful, secure places.
But that ignores the evidence of the scriptures where we see each apostle (other than John who died of old age on the Isle of Patmos after being exiled there) being cruelly tortured and executed because of his unswerving faith in the Christ whose person and whose gospel he loved better than life.
It negates the evidence of the lives of people of faith through the centuries who have endured hardship and pain and ostracism and death because they counted Jesus and His Word the Bible to be the only Truth in a world of lies. And they esteemed that Truth to be worthy of their own lives if that became the price they had to pay to embrace it.
Jesus warns us through His admonition to Peter in Luke 22:31, 32, “Simon, look out! Satan has asked to sift you like wheat that he may destroy you, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail.” That prayer covers us, too. Jesus desires that we be strong for Him, that we not allow either the blessings or the hardships of the Christian life to cause us to divert our eyes from Him who is Life.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Embrace the Grace
September 25
God’s unfathomable love for us caused Him to send a Savior who would redeem us from our sin, who would ‘buy us back’ for fellowship with Him and for presenting us blameless before the Throne of Mercy and Grace. Apart from the cleansing we receive when bathed in Jesus’ shed blood, we can have neither.
That is the motivation behind all the works of the Holy One that have transpired through the ages and are recorded in the Scriptures. The sole purpose of the exploits in the behalf of His ancient people, the thread of salvation that is woven through the entirety of the books of the Bible, the life and death and resurrection of Christ is toward the end that mankind be saved.
And once we come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, there can be only one underlying purpose for our lives. Whether we are salesmen or housewives or teachers or physicians or engineers or architects, He wants us to take up the cause for which Jesus laid down His life. He wants us to be messengers who carry the gospel into the workplace as well as celebrate it in the church!
In Romans 1:5 Paul articulates that purpose clearly and his life demonstrated it unmistakably, “We have received grace…through Him to bring about the obedience of faith among the nations on behalf of His name.” When we ‘embrace the grace’ and enfold to our hearts the Gracious One, He then sends us among the lost that we might impart the knowledge of grace to them.
God’s unfathomable love for us caused Him to send a Savior who would redeem us from our sin, who would ‘buy us back’ for fellowship with Him and for presenting us blameless before the Throne of Mercy and Grace. Apart from the cleansing we receive when bathed in Jesus’ shed blood, we can have neither.
That is the motivation behind all the works of the Holy One that have transpired through the ages and are recorded in the Scriptures. The sole purpose of the exploits in the behalf of His ancient people, the thread of salvation that is woven through the entirety of the books of the Bible, the life and death and resurrection of Christ is toward the end that mankind be saved.
And once we come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, there can be only one underlying purpose for our lives. Whether we are salesmen or housewives or teachers or physicians or engineers or architects, He wants us to take up the cause for which Jesus laid down His life. He wants us to be messengers who carry the gospel into the workplace as well as celebrate it in the church!
In Romans 1:5 Paul articulates that purpose clearly and his life demonstrated it unmistakably, “We have received grace…through Him to bring about the obedience of faith among the nations on behalf of His name.” When we ‘embrace the grace’ and enfold to our hearts the Gracious One, He then sends us among the lost that we might impart the knowledge of grace to them.
Friday, September 24, 2010
No Spirit But His Own
September 24
Just as our blood sacrifices cannot cleanse us of sin, neither can our good works that we endeavor to perform through our righteous living. Oh, certainly, God wants us to live honorable lives. The best of us strive to do so and the worst of us endeavor to give the appearance of doing so, but neither is sufficient.
A holy God cannot be appeased through the vain endeavors of man to please Him or to assuage His rightful anger over our failure to comply with His law which reflects His perfection to a degree that we cannot even see, let alone begin to understand.
What recognition can we possibly have of the perfect law of God which requires holy eyes to behold? What compliance can we have with God’s immutable code when our minds cannot begin to grasp the meaning of the word ‘holy’? Because God is holy, He sees through His holiness. We see through a veil of sin. But Philippians 3:3 extends to us the way to extricate ourselves from our dilemma.
Here we are told, “We are the circumcision, the ones who serve by the Spirit of God, boast in Christ Jesus and do not put confidence in the flesh.” When we receive Jesus as Savior and Lord, He gives us His Holy Spirit who empowers us to live the righteous life we cannot live on our own. Just as no blood but His own can cleanse us, no spirit but His own can enable us to walk in His goodness.
Just as our blood sacrifices cannot cleanse us of sin, neither can our good works that we endeavor to perform through our righteous living. Oh, certainly, God wants us to live honorable lives. The best of us strive to do so and the worst of us endeavor to give the appearance of doing so, but neither is sufficient.
A holy God cannot be appeased through the vain endeavors of man to please Him or to assuage His rightful anger over our failure to comply with His law which reflects His perfection to a degree that we cannot even see, let alone begin to understand.
What recognition can we possibly have of the perfect law of God which requires holy eyes to behold? What compliance can we have with God’s immutable code when our minds cannot begin to grasp the meaning of the word ‘holy’? Because God is holy, He sees through His holiness. We see through a veil of sin. But Philippians 3:3 extends to us the way to extricate ourselves from our dilemma.
Here we are told, “We are the circumcision, the ones who serve by the Spirit of God, boast in Christ Jesus and do not put confidence in the flesh.” When we receive Jesus as Savior and Lord, He gives us His Holy Spirit who empowers us to live the righteous life we cannot live on our own. Just as no blood but His own can cleanse us, no spirit but His own can enable us to walk in His goodness.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
The Pure, Holy, Sacrificial Lamb
September 23
From the beginning, only one sacrifice—blood—could cover the magnitude of the sin that stands between man and his Maker. In the Garden, it was the Creator Himself who slew the animal to make the covering for Adam and Eve. Their own flimsy attempt to conceal their sin from Him availed them nothing.
Cain’s rage over the rejection of his sacrifice of grain and his jealousy over God’s acceptance of Abel’s blood sacrifice led to the first murder by man—whose neglect to surrender to the laws of the Lord swelled that statistic as man continued through the corridor of sin that he chose over God’s path of righteousness.
Yet even the best of sacrifices, a spotless lamb, repeated over and over through the decades and centuries that went by could not erase the scarlet stain of sin that left its dark blot upon the soul of mankind. From one Passover to another, a perfect lamb was slain, yet man was still covered in his sin.
Until, as we are told in Colossians 1:22, “He has reconciled you by His physical body, through His death, to present you holy, faultless and blameless before Him.” Jesus laid down His life as the pure, holy, sacrificial Lamb required to cleanse us of our sin—once and for all—the only perfect sacrifice.
From the beginning, only one sacrifice—blood—could cover the magnitude of the sin that stands between man and his Maker. In the Garden, it was the Creator Himself who slew the animal to make the covering for Adam and Eve. Their own flimsy attempt to conceal their sin from Him availed them nothing.
Cain’s rage over the rejection of his sacrifice of grain and his jealousy over God’s acceptance of Abel’s blood sacrifice led to the first murder by man—whose neglect to surrender to the laws of the Lord swelled that statistic as man continued through the corridor of sin that he chose over God’s path of righteousness.
Yet even the best of sacrifices, a spotless lamb, repeated over and over through the decades and centuries that went by could not erase the scarlet stain of sin that left its dark blot upon the soul of mankind. From one Passover to another, a perfect lamb was slain, yet man was still covered in his sin.
Until, as we are told in Colossians 1:22, “He has reconciled you by His physical body, through His death, to present you holy, faultless and blameless before Him.” Jesus laid down His life as the pure, holy, sacrificial Lamb required to cleanse us of our sin—once and for all—the only perfect sacrifice.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Who Will Follow?
September 22
Colossians 2:6, 7 states very clearly the expectation of the Lord we profess to love and serve regarding how we walk along this Path of Salvation He has set before us. We know we have, by His grace, discovered the only road that leads to eternal life and He wills us to trod it in truth.
The Word here states clearly, “As you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith.” We don’t walk in Christ and expect to continue to walk in our own way. We don’t walk in Christ and expect Him to follow us into the dens of iniquity we once frequented.
We are not only to walk differently, we are to walk in a different direction, on a different path! Jesus tells us that the way to destruction is broad but the way to life eternal is narrow. Many throng the path to damnation; the path to life is less frequented (Matthew 7:13, 14). We may find ourselves traversing a lonely way when we are saved.
But, if we have truly experienced the saving grace of Jesus, if we truly value our relationship with Him, we will walk that path faithfully and we will not turn back. Though we may look over our shoulder at times, it will not be because we’re longing for the old way, but because we’re hoping those who see Him in us will follow.
Colossians 2:6, 7 states very clearly the expectation of the Lord we profess to love and serve regarding how we walk along this Path of Salvation He has set before us. We know we have, by His grace, discovered the only road that leads to eternal life and He wills us to trod it in truth.
The Word here states clearly, “As you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith.” We don’t walk in Christ and expect to continue to walk in our own way. We don’t walk in Christ and expect Him to follow us into the dens of iniquity we once frequented.
We are not only to walk differently, we are to walk in a different direction, on a different path! Jesus tells us that the way to destruction is broad but the way to life eternal is narrow. Many throng the path to damnation; the path to life is less frequented (Matthew 7:13, 14). We may find ourselves traversing a lonely way when we are saved.
But, if we have truly experienced the saving grace of Jesus, if we truly value our relationship with Him, we will walk that path faithfully and we will not turn back. Though we may look over our shoulder at times, it will not be because we’re longing for the old way, but because we’re hoping those who see Him in us will follow.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Walking His Way
September 21
How we walk makes a difference. As the old saying goes, ‘You may be the only gospel some men ever read.’ The Lord desires that those who profess faith in Him and name His name comport themselves as He would have them to do. We must ask ourselves what He wills for us, then we must do it.
Life can make it difficult for us to be Christ-like all the time. We know there are unscrupulous people with whom we must deal on a daily basis and we know it sometimes appears that we put ourselves at a distinct disadvantage when we play by His rules while these who know Him not, flagrantly break them.
But that does not deny the truth of II Corinthians 9:13 that says, “Through the proof of this, they will glorify God for your obedience to the confession of the gospel of Christ.” This seems to be saying that when believers are faithful to Him as they live life, we are evidencing an integrity that affirms our profession of faith.
Were we to put expediency above obedience to the law of Christ, we would evidence ourselves to be just like everyone who complies with His will when it seems to suit our purpose while ignoring His will in favor of our own when it does not. Loving Jesus means walking continually in the way He says is holy.
How we walk makes a difference. As the old saying goes, ‘You may be the only gospel some men ever read.’ The Lord desires that those who profess faith in Him and name His name comport themselves as He would have them to do. We must ask ourselves what He wills for us, then we must do it.
Life can make it difficult for us to be Christ-like all the time. We know there are unscrupulous people with whom we must deal on a daily basis and we know it sometimes appears that we put ourselves at a distinct disadvantage when we play by His rules while these who know Him not, flagrantly break them.
But that does not deny the truth of II Corinthians 9:13 that says, “Through the proof of this, they will glorify God for your obedience to the confession of the gospel of Christ.” This seems to be saying that when believers are faithful to Him as they live life, we are evidencing an integrity that affirms our profession of faith.
Were we to put expediency above obedience to the law of Christ, we would evidence ourselves to be just like everyone who complies with His will when it seems to suit our purpose while ignoring His will in favor of our own when it does not. Loving Jesus means walking continually in the way He says is holy.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Man's Deceitful Heart
September 20
Faith is essentially an act of will. Each person accepts or rejects the claims of Christ as his heart dictates. Each person perceives God as he will—or distains the thought of His existence—depending upon his own decision regarding the evidence at hand of the veracity of God’s being.
The reality is that different people in different cultures have evolved a god-essence that is unique to themselves. Some see god as demanding great feats to prove devotion. They drag themselves to shrines honoring their ‘god’ with their foreheads pressed into the dirt.
Some believe their ‘god’ demands them to murder any who disbelieve—and these are willing to sacrifice themselves in the process of killing as many unbelievers as they can expedite to eternity. Some sacrifice even their children to the blood lust of their ‘god.’ How can it be that there is such rampant unbelief in the One True God?
The mindset of the denial of Christ existed even when He lived and walked among men, performing all manner of miracles and demonstrating the greatest love that has ever existed. John 12:37 acknowledges, “Even though He had performed many signs in their presence, they did not believe in Him.” Perhaps the answer lies in the words that the heart of man is deceitful above all things.
Faith is essentially an act of will. Each person accepts or rejects the claims of Christ as his heart dictates. Each person perceives God as he will—or distains the thought of His existence—depending upon his own decision regarding the evidence at hand of the veracity of God’s being.
The reality is that different people in different cultures have evolved a god-essence that is unique to themselves. Some see god as demanding great feats to prove devotion. They drag themselves to shrines honoring their ‘god’ with their foreheads pressed into the dirt.
Some believe their ‘god’ demands them to murder any who disbelieve—and these are willing to sacrifice themselves in the process of killing as many unbelievers as they can expedite to eternity. Some sacrifice even their children to the blood lust of their ‘god.’ How can it be that there is such rampant unbelief in the One True God?
The mindset of the denial of Christ existed even when He lived and walked among men, performing all manner of miracles and demonstrating the greatest love that has ever existed. John 12:37 acknowledges, “Even though He had performed many signs in their presence, they did not believe in Him.” Perhaps the answer lies in the words that the heart of man is deceitful above all things.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
...All the Things You Pray For...
September 19
Our hearts long after God. We yearn to know the depth of His love for us and the extent of His power employed in our behalf. We strive for Him the way we have striven for the love of our earthly fathers. To the extent that we have felt loved by the men who raised us, to that extent we can know God’s love.
If we have felt the love of our fathers, we will readily receive God’s love. If we have felt disappointed in our desire to feel our fathers’ love, we will be disappointed in our longing to feel the love of God our Father. Though we yearn and hunger to know His love, our ability to feel Him will be thwarted in some measure by our human experience.
Yet, this is not the way the Lord intends it to be. He wants all of us to know Him in the fullness of His love for us. He wants all of us to employ the power of prayer that leads us to fulfilled spirits and fulfilled lives. Jesus gives us a promise in Mark 11:24 that is most precious and uplifting.
Here He says, “I tell you, all the things you pray for, believe that you have received them and you will have them.” This speaks of the love of a Father who desires to fill the longing of His children. Surely, He will not give anything that would do us harm, but all His perfect gifts are lovingly extended to His children.
Our hearts long after God. We yearn to know the depth of His love for us and the extent of His power employed in our behalf. We strive for Him the way we have striven for the love of our earthly fathers. To the extent that we have felt loved by the men who raised us, to that extent we can know God’s love.
If we have felt the love of our fathers, we will readily receive God’s love. If we have felt disappointed in our desire to feel our fathers’ love, we will be disappointed in our longing to feel the love of God our Father. Though we yearn and hunger to know His love, our ability to feel Him will be thwarted in some measure by our human experience.
Yet, this is not the way the Lord intends it to be. He wants all of us to know Him in the fullness of His love for us. He wants all of us to employ the power of prayer that leads us to fulfilled spirits and fulfilled lives. Jesus gives us a promise in Mark 11:24 that is most precious and uplifting.
Here He says, “I tell you, all the things you pray for, believe that you have received them and you will have them.” This speaks of the love of a Father who desires to fill the longing of His children. Surely, He will not give anything that would do us harm, but all His perfect gifts are lovingly extended to His children.
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Motivation
September 18
Sometimes when we reflect upon the lives of the apostles, we wonder what motivated them to endure all that befell them because they professed faith in Jesus and declared His salvation among the heathen empire that ultimately destroyed their lives for their effort.
These men who went about doing good, who spoke words of encouragement to the hopeless, words of health to the sick, words of life to the dying were imprisoned, beaten mercilessly, and vilely handled for their effort to share with the lost the message of salvation that had transformed their lives.
The prophet Jeremiah in Chapter 20, verse 9 gives some insight into the motivation behind those who see God with a clear eye and serve Him with a full heart. Here he declares, “If I say, ‘I won’t mention Him or speak any longer in His name,’ His message becomes a fire burning in my heart.”
There is an urgency within the bosom of the one who devotes his life to serving the Lord. The one who has seen Him, who feels the presence of His Holy Spirit, who has been redeemed by His salvation cannot deny the Lord and he cannot deny the opportunity to know Him to the lost who understand and know Him not.
Sometimes when we reflect upon the lives of the apostles, we wonder what motivated them to endure all that befell them because they professed faith in Jesus and declared His salvation among the heathen empire that ultimately destroyed their lives for their effort.
These men who went about doing good, who spoke words of encouragement to the hopeless, words of health to the sick, words of life to the dying were imprisoned, beaten mercilessly, and vilely handled for their effort to share with the lost the message of salvation that had transformed their lives.
The prophet Jeremiah in Chapter 20, verse 9 gives some insight into the motivation behind those who see God with a clear eye and serve Him with a full heart. Here he declares, “If I say, ‘I won’t mention Him or speak any longer in His name,’ His message becomes a fire burning in my heart.”
There is an urgency within the bosom of the one who devotes his life to serving the Lord. The one who has seen Him, who feels the presence of His Holy Spirit, who has been redeemed by His salvation cannot deny the Lord and he cannot deny the opportunity to know Him to the lost who understand and know Him not.
Friday, September 17, 2010
A Future and a Hope
September 17
Jeremiah 29:11 conveys one of the most comforting thoughts in scripture—and the Word of God is filled with comfort! Certainly, the truth of salvation through Jesus’ life, death and resurrection is the essence of comfort to fallen man in a corrupt and dying world, but Jeremiah here gives us a hope for today.
The prophet says, “I know the plans I have for you, saith the Lord, to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you and future and a hope.” With all the turmoil in today’s world, it is difficult to read the news headlines or to watch the evening news without anxiety.
It is disconcerting to know that there is a people—they walk among us and seem to share our values and our hopes—who desire to see our downfall, whose expectation is that their culture will supersede ours and we will be left with the option of embracing their religion and their worldview or accepting death or servitude if we refuse.
It is disconcerting to know that there are natural events—hurricanes, tsunamis, earthquakes, asteroids—that could wreak havoc on life as we know it. We know lawlessness has increased and distain for goodness and truth are rampant. But we know the One who will never fail. He will be victorious and we will see the good—the future and the hope—He’s promised
Jeremiah 29:11 conveys one of the most comforting thoughts in scripture—and the Word of God is filled with comfort! Certainly, the truth of salvation through Jesus’ life, death and resurrection is the essence of comfort to fallen man in a corrupt and dying world, but Jeremiah here gives us a hope for today.
The prophet says, “I know the plans I have for you, saith the Lord, to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you and future and a hope.” With all the turmoil in today’s world, it is difficult to read the news headlines or to watch the evening news without anxiety.
It is disconcerting to know that there is a people—they walk among us and seem to share our values and our hopes—who desire to see our downfall, whose expectation is that their culture will supersede ours and we will be left with the option of embracing their religion and their worldview or accepting death or servitude if we refuse.
It is disconcerting to know that there are natural events—hurricanes, tsunamis, earthquakes, asteroids—that could wreak havoc on life as we know it. We know lawlessness has increased and distain for goodness and truth are rampant. But we know the One who will never fail. He will be victorious and we will see the good—the future and the hope—He’s promised
Thursday, September 16, 2010
It's a Ghost!
September 16
Perhaps the greatest enemy of the purposes of our God is the people who profess to know His name! That’s a very disconcerting thought. As we observe the evil machinations around us of governments and ideologies, it is difficult to fathom our own complicity in the problems we see on every hand.
Consider the disciples’ response in Matthew 14:26-27 when Jesus appeared to them walking on the water in the midst of a storm, “It is a ghost! They said and cried out in fear. Immediately, Jesus spoke to them, ‘Have courage. It is I. Be not afraid.’”
Or the prayers of the faithful in the behalf of Peter who’d been imprisoned and scheduled for execution because of his preaching of the risen Christ (Acts 12:1-16). Much fervent supplication had been made for Peter’s release. An angel came to him in prison and miraculously set him free. But the believers who had gathered to pray for his release thought they saw a ghost when he came to them! How like them we are! We pray. We want to see Jesus move in our behalf in the midst of our dilemma.
And when He does, we cannot believe it! Does this negativity undo faith? The Word says it does. May we remind ourselves when we pray that we are before the Throne of Mercy and Grace, that our God is good and it is His stated purpose to hear and answer when we supplicate Him in the behalf of our needs. May we allow our doubt to be overcome by confidence in Jesus, for HE is faithful and it is His good pleasure to give us the victory!
Perhaps the greatest enemy of the purposes of our God is the people who profess to know His name! That’s a very disconcerting thought. As we observe the evil machinations around us of governments and ideologies, it is difficult to fathom our own complicity in the problems we see on every hand.
Consider the disciples’ response in Matthew 14:26-27 when Jesus appeared to them walking on the water in the midst of a storm, “It is a ghost! They said and cried out in fear. Immediately, Jesus spoke to them, ‘Have courage. It is I. Be not afraid.’”
Or the prayers of the faithful in the behalf of Peter who’d been imprisoned and scheduled for execution because of his preaching of the risen Christ (Acts 12:1-16). Much fervent supplication had been made for Peter’s release. An angel came to him in prison and miraculously set him free. But the believers who had gathered to pray for his release thought they saw a ghost when he came to them! How like them we are! We pray. We want to see Jesus move in our behalf in the midst of our dilemma.
And when He does, we cannot believe it! Does this negativity undo faith? The Word says it does. May we remind ourselves when we pray that we are before the Throne of Mercy and Grace, that our God is good and it is His stated purpose to hear and answer when we supplicate Him in the behalf of our needs. May we allow our doubt to be overcome by confidence in Jesus, for HE is faithful and it is His good pleasure to give us the victory!
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
It's Not Your Battle
September 15
When the Mongolian hoards marched across Asia, leaving devastation in their wake, when the Nazis goose-stepped through Europe, crushing the Danes, the Poles, the French…when a stunned America sat in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, the Lord held out a word of hope to believers.
It is found in II Chronicles 20:15 and it says, “Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast multitude, for the battle is not yours but the Lord’s.” The battle is not yours but the Lord’s. In the throes of warfare, those words can lift and sustain the man of faith.
When the warfare in question is not between nations but ideologies the battle lines can be somewhat blurred. Who is the enemy? Who is capable of treachery? Who is a proponent of the cause? Who is worthy of trust? Much soul searching must be done to ascertain the answers to these perplexities regarding the conflagration.
When a person’s battle is more intimate—an emotional upheaval, a physical ailment, a financial need—the enemy seems clear but the course of action can be fraught with confusion until those precious words of truth resound to the glory of God! It’s not your battle, it’s His--and through Christ, He will give you victory!
When the Mongolian hoards marched across Asia, leaving devastation in their wake, when the Nazis goose-stepped through Europe, crushing the Danes, the Poles, the French…when a stunned America sat in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, the Lord held out a word of hope to believers.
It is found in II Chronicles 20:15 and it says, “Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast multitude, for the battle is not yours but the Lord’s.” The battle is not yours but the Lord’s. In the throes of warfare, those words can lift and sustain the man of faith.
When the warfare in question is not between nations but ideologies the battle lines can be somewhat blurred. Who is the enemy? Who is capable of treachery? Who is a proponent of the cause? Who is worthy of trust? Much soul searching must be done to ascertain the answers to these perplexities regarding the conflagration.
When a person’s battle is more intimate—an emotional upheaval, a physical ailment, a financial need—the enemy seems clear but the course of action can be fraught with confusion until those precious words of truth resound to the glory of God! It’s not your battle, it’s His--and through Christ, He will give you victory!
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Consistency of Focus
September 14
A profound principle for achieving, for being, is seeing the goal with a single eye. In James 1:8 the Lord’s brother reminds us that “a double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” Jesus said, “As you cannot serve two master, for you will love the one and hate the other, neither can you serve God and mammon” Luke 16:13.
The psalmist’s prayer in Psalm 86:11 establishes this principle very succinctly, “Teach me Your way, Lord, and I will live by Your truth. Give me an undivided mind to fear Your name.” That undeniable need for consistency of focus is affirmed again and again in the scriptures.
The Lord desires that His people reap the benefit of knowledge—knowledge of who He is and how to approach Him effectively. Just as potentates of old had to be approached in a prescribed manner, so we have a way that leads most directly to the realization of our objectives in prayer.
God does not want us fumbling along unproductive paths, through the thicket of doubt, through the desert of despair, along the trail of deception. He wants us to know how to reach Him with the cries of our heart, and that direct road is through unwavering faith that springs from a mind surrendered to and rooted in His Truth.
A profound principle for achieving, for being, is seeing the goal with a single eye. In James 1:8 the Lord’s brother reminds us that “a double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” Jesus said, “As you cannot serve two master, for you will love the one and hate the other, neither can you serve God and mammon” Luke 16:13.
The psalmist’s prayer in Psalm 86:11 establishes this principle very succinctly, “Teach me Your way, Lord, and I will live by Your truth. Give me an undivided mind to fear Your name.” That undeniable need for consistency of focus is affirmed again and again in the scriptures.
The Lord desires that His people reap the benefit of knowledge—knowledge of who He is and how to approach Him effectively. Just as potentates of old had to be approached in a prescribed manner, so we have a way that leads most directly to the realization of our objectives in prayer.
God does not want us fumbling along unproductive paths, through the thicket of doubt, through the desert of despair, along the trail of deception. He wants us to know how to reach Him with the cries of our heart, and that direct road is through unwavering faith that springs from a mind surrendered to and rooted in His Truth.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Life Through Your Word
September 13
Sometimes even a man of God, a man ‘after God’s own heart’ as was the psalmist David, can find himself in utter despair. If we acknowledge the presence of this negative emotion, most of us can attest to its reality within our own lives. We know what it’s like to have our minds shrouded in frustration and despondency.
In Psalm 119:25, 26, David stated it very clearly, “My life is down to the dust…” there’s no place further down to go than into the dust. There’s no lower level to which to sink—either in outlook or in the quagmire of sin that caused it to be so bleak, than to be groveling in the ground, covered with the filth of negativity.
Yet, David doesn’t end his thought on this dour note. As always in his beautiful writing, the sweet songster leaves us with a lilt in his tone and encouragement to our heart. He continues in this passage with, “…give me life through Your Word. You know of my trouble and You hear me.”
We may take courage through the life-giving Word David expresses here! We, too, may allow our hope to be renewed, our faith to be re-invigorated, our heart to be encouraged, for as we read the promises and understand the power and faithfulness behind them, we reaffirm our trust in Jesus who will not fail us.
Sometimes even a man of God, a man ‘after God’s own heart’ as was the psalmist David, can find himself in utter despair. If we acknowledge the presence of this negative emotion, most of us can attest to its reality within our own lives. We know what it’s like to have our minds shrouded in frustration and despondency.
In Psalm 119:25, 26, David stated it very clearly, “My life is down to the dust…” there’s no place further down to go than into the dust. There’s no lower level to which to sink—either in outlook or in the quagmire of sin that caused it to be so bleak, than to be groveling in the ground, covered with the filth of negativity.
Yet, David doesn’t end his thought on this dour note. As always in his beautiful writing, the sweet songster leaves us with a lilt in his tone and encouragement to our heart. He continues in this passage with, “…give me life through Your Word. You know of my trouble and You hear me.”
We may take courage through the life-giving Word David expresses here! We, too, may allow our hope to be renewed, our faith to be re-invigorated, our heart to be encouraged, for as we read the promises and understand the power and faithfulness behind them, we reaffirm our trust in Jesus who will not fail us.
Life Through Your Word
September 13
Sometimes even a man of God, a man ‘after God’s own heart’ as was the psalmist David, can find himself in utter despair. If we acknowledge the presence of this negative emotion, most of us can attest to its reality within our own lives. We know what it’s like to have our minds shrouded in frustration and despondency.
In Psalm 119:25, 26, David stated it very clearly, “My life is down to the dust…” there’s no place further down to go than into the dust. There’s no lower level to which to sink—either in outlook or in the quagmire of sin that caused it to be so bleak, than to be groveling in the ground, covered with the filth of negativity.
Yet, David doesn’t end his thought on this dour note. As always in his beautiful writing, the sweet songster leaves us with a lilt in his tone and encouragement to our heart. He continues in this passage with, “…give me life through Your Word. You know of my trouble and You hear me.”
We may take courage through the life-giving Word David expresses here! We, too, may allow our hope to be renewed, our faith to be re-invigorated, our heart to be encouraged, for as we read the promises and understand the power and faithfulness behind them, we reaffirm our trust in Jesus who will not fail us.
Sometimes even a man of God, a man ‘after God’s own heart’ as was the psalmist David, can find himself in utter despair. If we acknowledge the presence of this negative emotion, most of us can attest to its reality within our own lives. We know what it’s like to have our minds shrouded in frustration and despondency.
In Psalm 119:25, 26, David stated it very clearly, “My life is down to the dust…” there’s no place further down to go than into the dust. There’s no lower level to which to sink—either in outlook or in the quagmire of sin that caused it to be so bleak, than to be groveling in the ground, covered with the filth of negativity.
Yet, David doesn’t end his thought on this dour note. As always in his beautiful writing, the sweet songster leaves us with a lilt in his tone and encouragement to our heart. He continues in this passage with, “…give me life through Your Word. You know of my trouble and You hear me.”
We may take courage through the life-giving Word David expresses here! We, too, may allow our hope to be renewed, our faith to be re-invigorated, our heart to be encouraged, for as we read the promises and understand the power and faithfulness behind them, we reaffirm our trust in Jesus who will not fail us.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Faith Grows; His Righteousness Is Revealed
September 12
Great and mighty battles are won in the arena of the spirit and in the battlefield of the mind. Man is quite susceptible to attack in these two areas—perhaps even more than he is to the vile darts of disease and disorder and injury and weakness to which he is the prey of the enemy who attacks his body.
There is power in prayer to overcome the assault of the evil one who has come to rob man of faith, to destroy his hope and to kill his body. When the believer has appropriated the prayer power to see the enemy’s devices undone in a battle, when ‘old slewfoot’ has turned tail and run, the believer cannot rest.
For although the devil is beaten for a season—and knows he will be beaten at the final showdown between him and Jesus—he will regroup, re-strategize, and attack again. When we are weary of the fight, he has just begun. Why, we might ask, are we compelled to fight him off again and again?
We know the battle is the Lord’s; that Jesus fights for us and will always prove to be greater than our enemy. He permits the war to go on for a season, because, “God’s righteousness is revealed from faith to faith, as it is written, the just shall live by faith” Romans 1:17. Faith grows, life is affirmed, as His righteousness is revealed in us.
Great and mighty battles are won in the arena of the spirit and in the battlefield of the mind. Man is quite susceptible to attack in these two areas—perhaps even more than he is to the vile darts of disease and disorder and injury and weakness to which he is the prey of the enemy who attacks his body.
There is power in prayer to overcome the assault of the evil one who has come to rob man of faith, to destroy his hope and to kill his body. When the believer has appropriated the prayer power to see the enemy’s devices undone in a battle, when ‘old slewfoot’ has turned tail and run, the believer cannot rest.
For although the devil is beaten for a season—and knows he will be beaten at the final showdown between him and Jesus—he will regroup, re-strategize, and attack again. When we are weary of the fight, he has just begun. Why, we might ask, are we compelled to fight him off again and again?
We know the battle is the Lord’s; that Jesus fights for us and will always prove to be greater than our enemy. He permits the war to go on for a season, because, “God’s righteousness is revealed from faith to faith, as it is written, the just shall live by faith” Romans 1:17. Faith grows, life is affirmed, as His righteousness is revealed in us.
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Lean on the Lord
September 11 REMEMBER THE FALLEN; GUARD THE LIVING
The Apostle John was noted for his tender heart. He delighted in being at the side of Jesus. Some of the most warm and compelling parts of the New Testament are those passages that came from John’s pen. Even when in exile on the Isle of Patmos, his words were gentle, they were without vindictiveness.
John had much reason to detest his tormenters. He had seen the Jewish hierarchy conspire with their Roman masters to crucify Jesus to whom he had devoted his life. He had seen his brother James executed as well as his fellow disciples. He alone remained of them when he wrote the Book of Revelation.
Yet, he was able to look beyond the hatred and treachery of men to see their need for the Savior’s love and forgiveness. He was able to reach out to them with the words that had healed his soul and could heal theirs. On this Eleventh of September, may we who believe do the same. May we forgive. May we be wise and cautious. May we guard ourselves militarily.
May we guard our minds against the deception for which our enemy is noted, and, above all, may we lean on the Lord for His protection from our enemies who wish to destroy us. But may we, like John, “Look at how great a love the Father has given us, that we should be called His children!” I John 3:1, and may we extend that love to even our enemies—and pray they become our brothers.
The Apostle John was noted for his tender heart. He delighted in being at the side of Jesus. Some of the most warm and compelling parts of the New Testament are those passages that came from John’s pen. Even when in exile on the Isle of Patmos, his words were gentle, they were without vindictiveness.
John had much reason to detest his tormenters. He had seen the Jewish hierarchy conspire with their Roman masters to crucify Jesus to whom he had devoted his life. He had seen his brother James executed as well as his fellow disciples. He alone remained of them when he wrote the Book of Revelation.
Yet, he was able to look beyond the hatred and treachery of men to see their need for the Savior’s love and forgiveness. He was able to reach out to them with the words that had healed his soul and could heal theirs. On this Eleventh of September, may we who believe do the same. May we forgive. May we be wise and cautious. May we guard ourselves militarily.
May we guard our minds against the deception for which our enemy is noted, and, above all, may we lean on the Lord for His protection from our enemies who wish to destroy us. But may we, like John, “Look at how great a love the Father has given us, that we should be called His children!” I John 3:1, and may we extend that love to even our enemies—and pray they become our brothers.
Friday, September 10, 2010
Every Man Must Have His Chance
September 10
We live in a sin-filled world. It is difficult, it is virtually impossible to look around, to behold the inhumanity of man to his brother, without feeling righteous indignation at what we see. The embezzler whose thievery robs the elderly of their lives’ savings deserves prison for his treachery.
The pervert who rapes and murders is worthy of eternal torment. The terrorist who preys on the innocent by-stander who cannot fathom the intensity of the malice within his heart cannot be expedited quickly enough to join satan’s demons in the bowels of hell.
Yet the Word of God tells us that we must not be among those who condemn. Yes, we are admonished to try men’s works to see if they reflect the heart of the Savior, but judgment is not our prerogative. Romans 2:1 tells us, “When you judge another, you condemn yourself since you do the same things.” We may not be in the category of thieves and murderers and terrorists, but sin occupies our hearts, too.
That is, until we behold the mercy and love of Jesus who gave Himself for our sin. When we recognize our guilt and our total inability to absolve it, we will claim the gift Jesus purchased for us. Then, because we have received His forgiveness, we will be compelled to take the message of forgiveness to all men; for every man must have the chance to claim the cleansing he will receive—no matter his sin—when he embraces Jesus as His Savior and Lord and King.
We live in a sin-filled world. It is difficult, it is virtually impossible to look around, to behold the inhumanity of man to his brother, without feeling righteous indignation at what we see. The embezzler whose thievery robs the elderly of their lives’ savings deserves prison for his treachery.
The pervert who rapes and murders is worthy of eternal torment. The terrorist who preys on the innocent by-stander who cannot fathom the intensity of the malice within his heart cannot be expedited quickly enough to join satan’s demons in the bowels of hell.
Yet the Word of God tells us that we must not be among those who condemn. Yes, we are admonished to try men’s works to see if they reflect the heart of the Savior, but judgment is not our prerogative. Romans 2:1 tells us, “When you judge another, you condemn yourself since you do the same things.” We may not be in the category of thieves and murderers and terrorists, but sin occupies our hearts, too.
That is, until we behold the mercy and love of Jesus who gave Himself for our sin. When we recognize our guilt and our total inability to absolve it, we will claim the gift Jesus purchased for us. Then, because we have received His forgiveness, we will be compelled to take the message of forgiveness to all men; for every man must have the chance to claim the cleansing he will receive—no matter his sin—when he embraces Jesus as His Savior and Lord and King.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
No Condemnation
September 9
The law of God establishes mankind’s guilt before Him. The law of God leaves His errant creation no wiggle room. Every man born into this Vale of Tears must acknowledge before God and himself that he is condemned by his own sin. Paul reminds us in Romans 3:10 that, “…there is none righteous, no, not one.”
If God so chose, He would be totally justified (not that God would require justification) in banishing every one of the sinful brotherhood of man eternally to the abyss! But, that is not what the loving Father desires for the fallen creature that He created for fellowship with Himself!
In II Corinthians 3:9 Paul expresses the polar opposite positions that our Triune God set before Himself when Adam and Eve tasted of the forbidden fruit: “If the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry of righteousness overflows with even more glory.” Condemnation vs. righteousness—the former, man earned; the latter, he can never earn.
The One who inhabits the eternal glory of Himself has not chosen to abide in that radiance alone! It is the desire and longing of His heart to surround Himself with the fallen creature that He loves. That is why Jesus came to bear our sin, to cleanse us from it, and to establish our righteousness before the Father. That is why the Lord chose to give us His righteousness so we needn’t be condemned.
The law of God establishes mankind’s guilt before Him. The law of God leaves His errant creation no wiggle room. Every man born into this Vale of Tears must acknowledge before God and himself that he is condemned by his own sin. Paul reminds us in Romans 3:10 that, “…there is none righteous, no, not one.”
If God so chose, He would be totally justified (not that God would require justification) in banishing every one of the sinful brotherhood of man eternally to the abyss! But, that is not what the loving Father desires for the fallen creature that He created for fellowship with Himself!
In II Corinthians 3:9 Paul expresses the polar opposite positions that our Triune God set before Himself when Adam and Eve tasted of the forbidden fruit: “If the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry of righteousness overflows with even more glory.” Condemnation vs. righteousness—the former, man earned; the latter, he can never earn.
The One who inhabits the eternal glory of Himself has not chosen to abide in that radiance alone! It is the desire and longing of His heart to surround Himself with the fallen creature that He loves. That is why Jesus came to bear our sin, to cleanse us from it, and to establish our righteousness before the Father. That is why the Lord chose to give us His righteousness so we needn’t be condemned.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
See His Glory
September 8
Jairus, the ruler of the synagogue came to Jesus to implore of Him a miracle. His daughter was dying and Jairus had heard of the wondrous feats of faith this itinerant preacher was performing. Even in a day and age without mass communication, word of this Great Healer was spreading fast.
Crowds of people came to Jesus—people without hope, the lepers who were the outcasts of society, came to Him and were cleansed of the contagion that required them to shout, “Unclean! Unclean!” if they approached anyone on the street. Those deemed possessed of demons, insane, were brought to Him.
But as the crowd pressed around Jesus and followed Him to the home of Jarius, word was brought to the ruler of the synagogue, “Trouble not the Master; your daughter is dead.” What devastating words! The Healer was so near, yet time pulled its mischief and Jesus could not arrive with the healing power in His touch.
Like us today, when we hear a word of hope, spoken into our abject despair, imagine Jairus’s joy when he heard Jesus say, “Don’t be afraid. Only believe and she will be made well” Luke 8:50. And she was raised up! There is no problem Jesus cannot solve. Take your greatest need to Him, and see His glory!
Jairus, the ruler of the synagogue came to Jesus to implore of Him a miracle. His daughter was dying and Jairus had heard of the wondrous feats of faith this itinerant preacher was performing. Even in a day and age without mass communication, word of this Great Healer was spreading fast.
Crowds of people came to Jesus—people without hope, the lepers who were the outcasts of society, came to Him and were cleansed of the contagion that required them to shout, “Unclean! Unclean!” if they approached anyone on the street. Those deemed possessed of demons, insane, were brought to Him.
But as the crowd pressed around Jesus and followed Him to the home of Jarius, word was brought to the ruler of the synagogue, “Trouble not the Master; your daughter is dead.” What devastating words! The Healer was so near, yet time pulled its mischief and Jesus could not arrive with the healing power in His touch.
Like us today, when we hear a word of hope, spoken into our abject despair, imagine Jairus’s joy when he heard Jesus say, “Don’t be afraid. Only believe and she will be made well” Luke 8:50. And she was raised up! There is no problem Jesus cannot solve. Take your greatest need to Him, and see His glory!
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
The God Who Loves
September 7
John 14:21 expresses a perfect circle of love. Here Jesus says, “The one who loves Me will be loved by My Father. I also will love him and will reveal Myself to him.” The magnitude of the glory of the hope and promise expressed in these words is beyond our ability to completely grasp!
First of all, how can a finite being begin to comprehend the inestimable treasure that is bestowed upon him by the infinite love of God? Man cannot begin to fathom the greatness of this lavish love his Lord and Savior and King extends to him.
Perhaps this is why so much of fallen man serves a god who requires submission, sacrifice—even unto death—of him. It is easy to imagine a wrathful god who must be satiated, who demands blood sacrifice, who cannot be placated until his enemies are destroyed! But a God who loves…
But a God who sacrifices Himself so His fallen creation may be absolved of sin, set free of its burden of guilt and shame, made co-heir with Christ of the treasures of eternity! This is a love beyond man’s ken and can be understood only as it is revealed by the Holy Spirit as man opens his spirit to Him.
John 14:21 expresses a perfect circle of love. Here Jesus says, “The one who loves Me will be loved by My Father. I also will love him and will reveal Myself to him.” The magnitude of the glory of the hope and promise expressed in these words is beyond our ability to completely grasp!
First of all, how can a finite being begin to comprehend the inestimable treasure that is bestowed upon him by the infinite love of God? Man cannot begin to fathom the greatness of this lavish love his Lord and Savior and King extends to him.
Perhaps this is why so much of fallen man serves a god who requires submission, sacrifice—even unto death—of him. It is easy to imagine a wrathful god who must be satiated, who demands blood sacrifice, who cannot be placated until his enemies are destroyed! But a God who loves…
But a God who sacrifices Himself so His fallen creation may be absolved of sin, set free of its burden of guilt and shame, made co-heir with Christ of the treasures of eternity! This is a love beyond man’s ken and can be understood only as it is revealed by the Holy Spirit as man opens his spirit to Him.
Monday, September 6, 2010
Without Distraction
September 6
We tend to wonder why our prayers aren’t answered. We understand that God has a time-table and He may put our prayers on ‘hold’ in order to facilitate the answer at the optimum time. It is when the delay becomes protracted that we become concerned that perhaps He will not respond.
I Corinthians 7:35 gives us a bit of insight into the perplexity in which we tend to find ourselves when it appears that God has not chosen to lean His ear toward us when we have supplicated Him in the behalf of a need that we know would be easy for Him to meet if only He would.
Here Paul says, “I am saying this for your benefit…so you may be devoted to the Lord without distraction.” We tend to be creatures of our age. We’re accustomed to doors that swing open for us as we approach them, instant mashed potatoes, cake mixes, prepared pie crusts—everything is quick and easy. Paul understood that the Lord isn’t a genie in a bottle.
He is not at our beck and call. He hears, He answers, but He will not be presumed upon. He desires that we seek Him with all our heart if we desire to find Him (Deuteronomy 4:29). He wants us to want HIM, not just what He can give us. He wants us to be devoted to Him, as the Word says, without distraction!
We tend to wonder why our prayers aren’t answered. We understand that God has a time-table and He may put our prayers on ‘hold’ in order to facilitate the answer at the optimum time. It is when the delay becomes protracted that we become concerned that perhaps He will not respond.
I Corinthians 7:35 gives us a bit of insight into the perplexity in which we tend to find ourselves when it appears that God has not chosen to lean His ear toward us when we have supplicated Him in the behalf of a need that we know would be easy for Him to meet if only He would.
Here Paul says, “I am saying this for your benefit…so you may be devoted to the Lord without distraction.” We tend to be creatures of our age. We’re accustomed to doors that swing open for us as we approach them, instant mashed potatoes, cake mixes, prepared pie crusts—everything is quick and easy. Paul understood that the Lord isn’t a genie in a bottle.
He is not at our beck and call. He hears, He answers, but He will not be presumed upon. He desires that we seek Him with all our heart if we desire to find Him (Deuteronomy 4:29). He wants us to want HIM, not just what He can give us. He wants us to be devoted to Him, as the Word says, without distraction!
Sunday, September 5, 2010
An Astounding Assertion
September 5
Ephesians 1:20 makes an astounding assertion regarding the power of God. We who believe acknowledge that God has phenomenal power, power beyond our ability to imagine. How can we who walk within the limitations of our flesh begin to fathom the awesome power of the One True and Living God?
Ephesians 1:20 tells us how—“He demonstrated this power in the Messiah by raising Him from the dead and seating Him at His right hand in the heavens.” The life, death, and resurrection of Jesus are well-documented. We can begin to grasp the magnitude of God’s power by looking at Jesus–risen from the tomb!
Another amazing aspect of that power that spoke and the worlds came into being, that moved upon the dead body of our Messiah and life was restored, is the promise that Jesus gave to His followers in John 14:12 where He said they would do greater works than He had done because He went to the Father.
We must take Jesus, the living Word of God, at His word. He said it and it is so. Is anyone sick? Pray for healing! Is anyone without the necessities of life? Let him pray for the One who owns the cattle on a thousand hills to provide his need. Is anyone lost? Let him turn to Jesus who came to seek and save the lost.
Ephesians 1:20 makes an astounding assertion regarding the power of God. We who believe acknowledge that God has phenomenal power, power beyond our ability to imagine. How can we who walk within the limitations of our flesh begin to fathom the awesome power of the One True and Living God?
Ephesians 1:20 tells us how—“He demonstrated this power in the Messiah by raising Him from the dead and seating Him at His right hand in the heavens.” The life, death, and resurrection of Jesus are well-documented. We can begin to grasp the magnitude of God’s power by looking at Jesus–risen from the tomb!
Another amazing aspect of that power that spoke and the worlds came into being, that moved upon the dead body of our Messiah and life was restored, is the promise that Jesus gave to His followers in John 14:12 where He said they would do greater works than He had done because He went to the Father.
We must take Jesus, the living Word of God, at His word. He said it and it is so. Is anyone sick? Pray for healing! Is anyone without the necessities of life? Let him pray for the One who owns the cattle on a thousand hills to provide his need. Is anyone lost? Let him turn to Jesus who came to seek and save the lost.
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Life and Treasure Beyond
September 4
Paul’s life was rough. He endured much hardship in service to the Kingdom of Christ. The mere rigors of travel in that day and age were imposing, so he suffered much even without factoring in the beatings, the shipwrecks…
Yet he willingly endured without complaint. Why? What made Paul so steadfast in his service to the Lord? The answer to that question comes in Galatians 2:20 where Paul gives us an insight into his life of service.
Here he says, “The life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me.” The paramount focus of Paul’s life was the life, death and resurrection of our incarnate God and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Paul realized that no earthly achievements, no temporal accolades will endure beyond the moment of drawing ones final breath. Because he understood that Jesus died to give him life and treasure beyond this world’s finest gifts, he embraced that truth and spent himself in the sharing of it with others.
Paul’s life was rough. He endured much hardship in service to the Kingdom of Christ. The mere rigors of travel in that day and age were imposing, so he suffered much even without factoring in the beatings, the shipwrecks…
Yet he willingly endured without complaint. Why? What made Paul so steadfast in his service to the Lord? The answer to that question comes in Galatians 2:20 where Paul gives us an insight into his life of service.
Here he says, “The life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me.” The paramount focus of Paul’s life was the life, death and resurrection of our incarnate God and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Paul realized that no earthly achievements, no temporal accolades will endure beyond the moment of drawing ones final breath. Because he understood that Jesus died to give him life and treasure beyond this world’s finest gifts, he embraced that truth and spent himself in the sharing of it with others.
Friday, September 3, 2010
Represent Him Faithfully
September 3
God has high expectations of His people. Oh, you might not guess that fact from the way we live our lives, but it’s true. We are very self-oriented and we are very world-focused. Most people who live their day-to-day lives do so without any contemplation whatsoever of what God may want from them.
Perhaps they are totally unaware that He wants anything from them at all. Worst case scenario—they believe He wants the wrong thing from them. It is hard to imagine that terrorists who blow themselves up do so without the strong conviction that they are pleasing the god they serve.
The question becomes, ‘Who is god to them?’ If a person is following a false god, he will do the bidding of that false god. ‘Who is god to you?’ If an individual knows God, the One Living and True God, it behooves him to also understand what He expects of man.
Deuteronomy 4:14 makes it very clear that the Lord God commanded Moses saying, “Teach My people My statutes and My laws and My ordinances. Follow them in the land to which I send you.” Wherever His people go, they are to faithfully represent Him to those of like precious faith and to unbelievers also.
God has high expectations of His people. Oh, you might not guess that fact from the way we live our lives, but it’s true. We are very self-oriented and we are very world-focused. Most people who live their day-to-day lives do so without any contemplation whatsoever of what God may want from them.
Perhaps they are totally unaware that He wants anything from them at all. Worst case scenario—they believe He wants the wrong thing from them. It is hard to imagine that terrorists who blow themselves up do so without the strong conviction that they are pleasing the god they serve.
The question becomes, ‘Who is god to them?’ If a person is following a false god, he will do the bidding of that false god. ‘Who is god to you?’ If an individual knows God, the One Living and True God, it behooves him to also understand what He expects of man.
Deuteronomy 4:14 makes it very clear that the Lord God commanded Moses saying, “Teach My people My statutes and My laws and My ordinances. Follow them in the land to which I send you.” Wherever His people go, they are to faithfully represent Him to those of like precious faith and to unbelievers also.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Revive and Restore
September 2
Jeremiah 6:16 says something that makes me think of America’s founding fathers. Here the Word proclaims, “Ask about the ancient paths—which one is the way to what is good? Then take it and find rest for yourselves.”
There is wisdom here for us today. We see changes being made to our government, to our economy, to our culture, to our total way of doing things and we wonder if our lot is being improved.
The reality is that we see evidence all around us of these newly-implemented schemes in our nation that have been tried and found wanting in other countries. The odds are that they will fail here, too. So why is our leadership bent upon unraveling the tried and true fabric of our nation and patching it with failure?
WE can only ponder the motives for their schemes. But common sense tells us that if we are to prosper as a nation—as people of independence and prosperity and faith—we must return to the foundation that was put in place by men of profound faith in the One True and Living God! May He revive and restore us!
Jeremiah 6:16 says something that makes me think of America’s founding fathers. Here the Word proclaims, “Ask about the ancient paths—which one is the way to what is good? Then take it and find rest for yourselves.”
There is wisdom here for us today. We see changes being made to our government, to our economy, to our culture, to our total way of doing things and we wonder if our lot is being improved.
The reality is that we see evidence all around us of these newly-implemented schemes in our nation that have been tried and found wanting in other countries. The odds are that they will fail here, too. So why is our leadership bent upon unraveling the tried and true fabric of our nation and patching it with failure?
WE can only ponder the motives for their schemes. But common sense tells us that if we are to prosper as a nation—as people of independence and prosperity and faith—we must return to the foundation that was put in place by men of profound faith in the One True and Living God! May He revive and restore us!
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