February 28
The athlete knows that if he is to perform optimally he must condition himself by demanding more of himself today than he was capable of yesterday. The athlete who contents himself with the status quo may be a fine old coot one day who avoids the rocking chair but he won't be a champion who has medals and trophies to help him reflect upon his glory days. As Paul said in I Corinthians 9:27, “I fight: not as one who beats the air, but I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become a castaway.” The one who stands in life's 'Winners' Circle' is the one who combats and overcomes the challenges he faces with spiritual discipline.
Factoring God into the equation allows that truth to become even more profound. He does not intend life's challenges—whether the sins that tempt us, or the sins that snare us, or the accusers who taunt us—to defeat us but to equip us to be "more than conquerors through Christ!" (Romans 8:37) Do we expect heaven to be populated with perfect people? If we do, we are mistaken. There will be Peter, who denied the Lord, who turned his back on the Messiah because he feared for this temporal life more than he believed for the eternal one (Mark 14:66-6). There will be Paul, who dragged believers before the authorities so they could be persecuted and slain for trusting Jesus as their Messiah (Acts 9:1, 2). There will be Mary Magdalene who had been a harlot (Luke 8:2). There will be the jailer who tortured prisoners for their faith in Christ until he became one of them (Acts 16:20-34).
When I was young, there was a serial killer who used a ruse of being in a cast to lure women to help him carry his things to his car. From there, they became his victims. When he was caught, after murdering dozens, he was witnessed to in prison and he repented and gave his life to Jesus. I can remember thinking how unfair it was that he would be forgiven of his heinous sins...but the angels in heaven rejoice when one sinner repents (Luke 15:10).
There will be all manner of scoundrels in heaven. Perhaps we wouldn't allow them entrance, but Jesus has paid the price for them to be there. I long ago stopped thinking about how little some people deserved to be cleansed and forgiven and granted eternal bliss and began focusing instead on how blessed I am—a blasphemer, an adulteress, an accomplice to a drug dealer, a tag-along with a motorcycle gang, a petty little person who strove to carry a facade of righteousness to hide behind while living a lie before myself and God—to be myself among the redeemed!
None of who I was matters anymore because I'm not her anymore. The devil tried to destroy me but Jesus repaired the damaged goods that I became under evil’s influence, allowing me to become the woman Christ died to save for Himself. Have you failed? Have you sinned? Like everyone else on the planet, you must answer, "Yes" to those questions. But like Peter, like Paul, like me and millions of other blood-bought believers, you may also answer "Yes" to Jesus. Let that make the difference for you for time and eternity.
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Gaining Mastery
February 27
It is not the critic who counts, nor the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows great enthusiasms, great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat. - Theodore Roosevelt
It is rather foolish to attempt to add anything to this quote because it is rich and full, What an encouragement it is to continue to strive for the highest and best of all to which we can aspire. What an incentive it is to keep trying to right every wrong we encounter along our way! Will there be nay-sayers? Will there be critics who wag their fingers and their tongues at us? There well may be, but our forward propulsion doesn't come because of their affirmation or its lack.
We are kept on our course by the inner enthusiasm of our own soul. And that comes from Jesus, of whom the Word says, "If God be for us, who can be against us," Romans 8:31. We know He is for us when our cause is right. We know He is for us because He has assured us that when we come to Him for forgiveness of sin, “He is faithful and just to forgive our sin and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness,” I John 1:9.
Will others come along side and rejoice at our deliverance from the snare in which the evil one had caught us? Not always--there will always be those who, like Jonah (Book of Jonah), thought the people of Nineveh were too wicked to hear the message of forgiveness which God compelled him to share. Like Jonah, they are wrong; they are challenged with the great fish of unforgiveness that swallows them up! We, on the other hand, will indeed hear the message and be forgiven by the Lord who washes us free of sin—and ultimately they will be required to forgive us--or perish in their sin.
It is Jesus Himself who encourages us along our way and empowers us to take our stand with the great ones who rise above every challenge to attain new heights of both outward accomplishment and inner contentment, joy, and peace! He wants us to make giant strides toward the inner tranquility that He imparts to those who are great sinners-- forgiven and made new.
Being among your greatest critics may stir up negative feelings but do not allow their accusations to stick to you! It is God's desire that you, like the people of Nineveh know newness in Christ—it is His desire that you claim and know and abide in forgiveness and acceptance into the family of God (Revelation 21:5) that has been purchased for you at great price (II Corinthians 9:15).
Don't allow lesser men who see their own sullied, self-righteous presumption as a viable cloak for their sin rob you of the robe of righteousness (Isaiah 61:10) that Jesus has placed upon you! Stand strong and arise gloriously in WHOSE YOU ARE! You are to rule and reign eternally in the heavenlies (II Timothy 2:12), so surely you can gain mastery over every challenge you face in time!
It is not the critic who counts, nor the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows great enthusiasms, great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat. - Theodore Roosevelt
It is rather foolish to attempt to add anything to this quote because it is rich and full, What an encouragement it is to continue to strive for the highest and best of all to which we can aspire. What an incentive it is to keep trying to right every wrong we encounter along our way! Will there be nay-sayers? Will there be critics who wag their fingers and their tongues at us? There well may be, but our forward propulsion doesn't come because of their affirmation or its lack.
We are kept on our course by the inner enthusiasm of our own soul. And that comes from Jesus, of whom the Word says, "If God be for us, who can be against us," Romans 8:31. We know He is for us when our cause is right. We know He is for us because He has assured us that when we come to Him for forgiveness of sin, “He is faithful and just to forgive our sin and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness,” I John 1:9.
Will others come along side and rejoice at our deliverance from the snare in which the evil one had caught us? Not always--there will always be those who, like Jonah (Book of Jonah), thought the people of Nineveh were too wicked to hear the message of forgiveness which God compelled him to share. Like Jonah, they are wrong; they are challenged with the great fish of unforgiveness that swallows them up! We, on the other hand, will indeed hear the message and be forgiven by the Lord who washes us free of sin—and ultimately they will be required to forgive us--or perish in their sin.
It is Jesus Himself who encourages us along our way and empowers us to take our stand with the great ones who rise above every challenge to attain new heights of both outward accomplishment and inner contentment, joy, and peace! He wants us to make giant strides toward the inner tranquility that He imparts to those who are great sinners-- forgiven and made new.
Being among your greatest critics may stir up negative feelings but do not allow their accusations to stick to you! It is God's desire that you, like the people of Nineveh know newness in Christ—it is His desire that you claim and know and abide in forgiveness and acceptance into the family of God (Revelation 21:5) that has been purchased for you at great price (II Corinthians 9:15).
Don't allow lesser men who see their own sullied, self-righteous presumption as a viable cloak for their sin rob you of the robe of righteousness (Isaiah 61:10) that Jesus has placed upon you! Stand strong and arise gloriously in WHOSE YOU ARE! You are to rule and reign eternally in the heavenlies (II Timothy 2:12), so surely you can gain mastery over every challenge you face in time!
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Switchback
February 26
“Life is not a straight line leading from one blessing to the next and then finally to heaven. Life is a winding and troubled road. Switchback after switchback. And the point of Biblical stories like Joseph and Job and Esther and Ruth is to help us feel in our bones (not just know in our heads) that God is for us in all these strange turns. God is not just showing up after the trouble and cleaning it up. He is plotting the course and managing the troubles with far-reaching purposes for our good and for the glory of Jesus Christ. ― John Piper, A Sweet and Bitter Providence
This is quite a life-impacting assertion! Although we certainly have made the same observation ourselves, perhaps it simply didn't have the ability to become a cohesive thought in our minds. Perhaps it took the depth of Piper's insight to clearly state what we had allowed to be a mere vapor of an idea rather than a complete concept.
Life is indeed a series of switchbacks and cris-crosses. It often seems that we no sooner traverse an area of challenge than we are required to plod through it again. We think we're progressing when in actuality we're really retracing our previous steps. If this is all part of God's plan to bring us to good—and Christ to glory—It sometimes seems to fall short of His intent. It seems we're losing ground instead of gaining it; it seems we're failing in our life's tests rather than winning them.
But if HE has a plan; if the cris-crossing and switching back have an intended purpose that HE will cause to result in our blessing, then we must assent to His work in us that, though it may be confusing in its progression must ultimately be refreshing and up-lifting in its outcome! And that is the work of faith that we must do along the way. When our minds tell us that our path is convoluted and abysmally lost, our faith tells us that God's guidance transcends our common sense, our logic, our sense of direction and our ability to grasp His purposes until HE is ready to unfold them!
As Psalm 33:15 tells us, “He who fashioned their hearts understands everything they do.” If we can ultimately emerge from our challenges and our trials as did Joseph (Genesis, Chapters 37-50), and Job (Book of Job), and Esther (Book of Esther) and Ruth (Book of Ruth), then we, too, shall certainly see His glory and appropriate His blessings. May we, as they did, hold fast to Him at every step, at every turn, at every switch-back along the way, knowing that JESUS IS FAITHFUL.
“Life is not a straight line leading from one blessing to the next and then finally to heaven. Life is a winding and troubled road. Switchback after switchback. And the point of Biblical stories like Joseph and Job and Esther and Ruth is to help us feel in our bones (not just know in our heads) that God is for us in all these strange turns. God is not just showing up after the trouble and cleaning it up. He is plotting the course and managing the troubles with far-reaching purposes for our good and for the glory of Jesus Christ. ― John Piper, A Sweet and Bitter Providence
This is quite a life-impacting assertion! Although we certainly have made the same observation ourselves, perhaps it simply didn't have the ability to become a cohesive thought in our minds. Perhaps it took the depth of Piper's insight to clearly state what we had allowed to be a mere vapor of an idea rather than a complete concept.
Life is indeed a series of switchbacks and cris-crosses. It often seems that we no sooner traverse an area of challenge than we are required to plod through it again. We think we're progressing when in actuality we're really retracing our previous steps. If this is all part of God's plan to bring us to good—and Christ to glory—It sometimes seems to fall short of His intent. It seems we're losing ground instead of gaining it; it seems we're failing in our life's tests rather than winning them.
But if HE has a plan; if the cris-crossing and switching back have an intended purpose that HE will cause to result in our blessing, then we must assent to His work in us that, though it may be confusing in its progression must ultimately be refreshing and up-lifting in its outcome! And that is the work of faith that we must do along the way. When our minds tell us that our path is convoluted and abysmally lost, our faith tells us that God's guidance transcends our common sense, our logic, our sense of direction and our ability to grasp His purposes until HE is ready to unfold them!
As Psalm 33:15 tells us, “He who fashioned their hearts understands everything they do.” If we can ultimately emerge from our challenges and our trials as did Joseph (Genesis, Chapters 37-50), and Job (Book of Job), and Esther (Book of Esther) and Ruth (Book of Ruth), then we, too, shall certainly see His glory and appropriate His blessings. May we, as they did, hold fast to Him at every step, at every turn, at every switch-back along the way, knowing that JESUS IS FAITHFUL.
Monday, February 25, 2013
Cocoon of Love
February 25
Are we to love only those who deserve our love? "Ye have heard it said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you; that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven." JESUS (Matthew 5:43-45)
What a transformation within your home, within your circumstances --within YOU-- if you could resolve to apply the words of the Lord into your situation! Things may not improve at the onset but gradually, incrementally, you will see a transformation in yourself. You will have hope where there was only despair and disappointment. There will be optimism where you had only the bleakest of outlook.
Gradually, you will see a transition occurring within the people around you, for the Word tells us that we shall “…reap what we sow,” Galatians 6:7. When you begin the process of changing yourself, conforming your attitude, your words, your actions to those Jesus modeled for us, the people around you will be profoundly touched by the change that will occur in you. Recognizing the new you will be the catalyst that will release the tension, and alleviate the stress within yourself first of all, then it will bless those around you.
But, perhaps the richest blessing of all will come because to accomplish the reality of the lovely words spoken by Jesus, you must allow Jesus to do it through you—and by giving HIM such complete control of yourself, you will be strengthened, you will be bathed in His “peace that passes understanding,” Philippians 4:7 and you will overflow with love. Then, even if no one else changes but you, you will be abundantly blessed–secure in the cocoon of the love your heavenly Father has for you!
Are we to love only those who deserve our love? "Ye have heard it said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you; that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven." JESUS (Matthew 5:43-45)
What a transformation within your home, within your circumstances --within YOU-- if you could resolve to apply the words of the Lord into your situation! Things may not improve at the onset but gradually, incrementally, you will see a transformation in yourself. You will have hope where there was only despair and disappointment. There will be optimism where you had only the bleakest of outlook.
Gradually, you will see a transition occurring within the people around you, for the Word tells us that we shall “…reap what we sow,” Galatians 6:7. When you begin the process of changing yourself, conforming your attitude, your words, your actions to those Jesus modeled for us, the people around you will be profoundly touched by the change that will occur in you. Recognizing the new you will be the catalyst that will release the tension, and alleviate the stress within yourself first of all, then it will bless those around you.
But, perhaps the richest blessing of all will come because to accomplish the reality of the lovely words spoken by Jesus, you must allow Jesus to do it through you—and by giving HIM such complete control of yourself, you will be strengthened, you will be bathed in His “peace that passes understanding,” Philippians 4:7 and you will overflow with love. Then, even if no one else changes but you, you will be abundantly blessed–secure in the cocoon of the love your heavenly Father has for you!
Sunday, February 24, 2013
His Hearing Heart
February 24
When you are listening to somebody, completely, attentively, then you are listening not only to the words, but also to the feeling of what is being conveyed, to the whole of it, not part of it. Jiddu Krishnamurti
We allow ourselves to be distracted. Children talk to us and we give them the necessary response to what they've said but haven't drunk in the intent of their little minds and spirits. Adults present their concerns to us and we attempt to empathize but our preoccupation with other matters prevents our hearing and responding with our hearts. Over and over again we repeat this cycle of half-hearted listening and over and over again, other people do the same thing to us.
The ONE who fully hears and understands the depth of our soul's desire is the Lord Jesus Christ. Because He walked in a tabernacle of flesh, He fully understands what it means to be alive. Because "He was oppressed and He was afflicted but opened not His mouth," Isaiah 53:7, He is fully aware of what it means to endure persecution and oppression and cruelty in silence. He knows what it's like to be misunderstood and maligned. He knows in the depth of His being all that afflicts us because He has taken all our burdens upon Himself (I Peter 5:7) and He has borne them to the cross where He has died to set us free from them!
Because Someone listened to us completely and attentively, because He listened to not only our words but to our feelings, because He listened to the whole of our hearts' weeping, we have in Him the complete understanding we so desperately yearn to receive! Because Jesus, the Author of Creation (see Genesis 1:1 and 1:26; see John 1:1), bent His ear toward us we know He hears us when we pray. Because He bent His heart toward us at Calvary (see Luke 23:34), we know our needs are met, our sins are forgiven and our chains are loosed! (see Ephesians 4:8) We are free to live, to love, to bless those around us because Jesus’ empathy for us empowers us to empathize with them!
May He help us to employ the gifts He's given to us to hear not only the words that are spoken to us but the intent of the hearts that reach out to us. May He enable us to reach back to those who look to us for help and extend to them the compassion for which they long, knowing that in so doing, we are being Christ to them—by extending His love and by pointing them toward Him, we are being the living epistle in which He may be "read of all men," II Corinthians 3:2. When we have allowed Him to fulfill that aspect of His plan, we will indeed have been His true partner in enabling the world to better listen with its heart because the world will know it's been heard by our hearts--and by His.
When you are listening to somebody, completely, attentively, then you are listening not only to the words, but also to the feeling of what is being conveyed, to the whole of it, not part of it. Jiddu Krishnamurti
We allow ourselves to be distracted. Children talk to us and we give them the necessary response to what they've said but haven't drunk in the intent of their little minds and spirits. Adults present their concerns to us and we attempt to empathize but our preoccupation with other matters prevents our hearing and responding with our hearts. Over and over again we repeat this cycle of half-hearted listening and over and over again, other people do the same thing to us.
The ONE who fully hears and understands the depth of our soul's desire is the Lord Jesus Christ. Because He walked in a tabernacle of flesh, He fully understands what it means to be alive. Because "He was oppressed and He was afflicted but opened not His mouth," Isaiah 53:7, He is fully aware of what it means to endure persecution and oppression and cruelty in silence. He knows what it's like to be misunderstood and maligned. He knows in the depth of His being all that afflicts us because He has taken all our burdens upon Himself (I Peter 5:7) and He has borne them to the cross where He has died to set us free from them!
Because Someone listened to us completely and attentively, because He listened to not only our words but to our feelings, because He listened to the whole of our hearts' weeping, we have in Him the complete understanding we so desperately yearn to receive! Because Jesus, the Author of Creation (see Genesis 1:1 and 1:26; see John 1:1), bent His ear toward us we know He hears us when we pray. Because He bent His heart toward us at Calvary (see Luke 23:34), we know our needs are met, our sins are forgiven and our chains are loosed! (see Ephesians 4:8) We are free to live, to love, to bless those around us because Jesus’ empathy for us empowers us to empathize with them!
May He help us to employ the gifts He's given to us to hear not only the words that are spoken to us but the intent of the hearts that reach out to us. May He enable us to reach back to those who look to us for help and extend to them the compassion for which they long, knowing that in so doing, we are being Christ to them—by extending His love and by pointing them toward Him, we are being the living epistle in which He may be "read of all men," II Corinthians 3:2. When we have allowed Him to fulfill that aspect of His plan, we will indeed have been His true partner in enabling the world to better listen with its heart because the world will know it's been heard by our hearts--and by His.
Saturday, February 23, 2013
The Resources of Heaven Are at Work
February 23
Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen. Winston Churchill
This word from one of the greatest statesmen in history is certainly appropriate to our daily lives as well as to nations. It is somewhat comparable to Teddy Roosevelt's, "Walk softly, but carry a big stick."
Life requires us to be ever vigilant because there is a foe whose object is to "steal, kill, and destroy," John 10:10, and we are his intended victims. If he can, he will steal our financial resources to prevent our sharing with those in need, but primarily, he will strive to rob us of our spiritual resolve and render us incapable of plying our way through expenditures of a spiritual nature. It is chief among his desires to rob us of the joy of the Lord which is our strength (Nehemiah 8:10), for ultimately it matters not to him if a man is wealthy or impoverished in life—only that he be spiritually wretched and be eternally in hell.
The evil one will kill our hope and our faith—so even if our physical bodies remain alive, we will be in the death throes of our spirit. It is his intent to destroy us, not because of who we are but because of WHOSE we are! If we love JESUS, he is against us, for it is his purpose to un-do the work of salvation the LORD has done in us (see Matthew 13:25-30) and to thereby un-do all the good work the LORD will empower us to accomplish in HIS BEHALF if we remain dedicated to Him and full of faith!
While it always takes courage to stand against the one who is our true enemy, it also takes courage to remain silent and listen while the Lord speaks in HIS STILL, SMALL VOICE (I Kings 19:12). It takes courage to trust the promise found in Psalm 46:10, "Be still and know that I am God! I will be exalted!" When it appears we are downcast and trodden over by the forces of the evil one; when it appears our cause is beyond the help of man or God, when we seem to have no choice but to sit silently as the vengeance of our enemy is hurled against us, it is then that we are STRONG IN THE MIGHT OF THE HOLY ONE WHO SAYS, "BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD! I will be exalted over the nations!" (See Psalm 46:10.)
He doesn't call us to 'be still and wonder if I'm God,' to 'be still and ponder the possibility that God might be moving in our behalf'! NO! He calls us to sit quietly and KNOW that all the resources of Heaven are at work in the behalf of the child who has put his trust, his confidence for time and eternity, in the hands of the Christ who has said, "…I will NEVER fail you nor forsake you," Hebrews 13:5; in the Christ who said, "...when you have done all, stand," Ephesians 6:13, in the Jesus who shall, “…reign forever and ever…” Revelation 11:15.
Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen. Winston Churchill
This word from one of the greatest statesmen in history is certainly appropriate to our daily lives as well as to nations. It is somewhat comparable to Teddy Roosevelt's, "Walk softly, but carry a big stick."
Life requires us to be ever vigilant because there is a foe whose object is to "steal, kill, and destroy," John 10:10, and we are his intended victims. If he can, he will steal our financial resources to prevent our sharing with those in need, but primarily, he will strive to rob us of our spiritual resolve and render us incapable of plying our way through expenditures of a spiritual nature. It is chief among his desires to rob us of the joy of the Lord which is our strength (Nehemiah 8:10), for ultimately it matters not to him if a man is wealthy or impoverished in life—only that he be spiritually wretched and be eternally in hell.
The evil one will kill our hope and our faith—so even if our physical bodies remain alive, we will be in the death throes of our spirit. It is his intent to destroy us, not because of who we are but because of WHOSE we are! If we love JESUS, he is against us, for it is his purpose to un-do the work of salvation the LORD has done in us (see Matthew 13:25-30) and to thereby un-do all the good work the LORD will empower us to accomplish in HIS BEHALF if we remain dedicated to Him and full of faith!
While it always takes courage to stand against the one who is our true enemy, it also takes courage to remain silent and listen while the Lord speaks in HIS STILL, SMALL VOICE (I Kings 19:12). It takes courage to trust the promise found in Psalm 46:10, "Be still and know that I am God! I will be exalted!" When it appears we are downcast and trodden over by the forces of the evil one; when it appears our cause is beyond the help of man or God, when we seem to have no choice but to sit silently as the vengeance of our enemy is hurled against us, it is then that we are STRONG IN THE MIGHT OF THE HOLY ONE WHO SAYS, "BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD! I will be exalted over the nations!" (See Psalm 46:10.)
He doesn't call us to 'be still and wonder if I'm God,' to 'be still and ponder the possibility that God might be moving in our behalf'! NO! He calls us to sit quietly and KNOW that all the resources of Heaven are at work in the behalf of the child who has put his trust, his confidence for time and eternity, in the hands of the Christ who has said, "…I will NEVER fail you nor forsake you," Hebrews 13:5; in the Christ who said, "...when you have done all, stand," Ephesians 6:13, in the Jesus who shall, “…reign forever and ever…” Revelation 11:15.
Friday, February 22, 2013
The Courage of Relationship
February 22
Courage is knowing what not to fear. Plato
Sometimes, regarding courage or its antithesis, fear, we KNOW what we should do, we simply can't appropriate the where-with-all to do what we know we must. How do we appropriate the courage to step out in faith when the Lord calls us to overcome opposing forces around us so His name will be glorified?
May we look to David, who as a boy confronted the giant Goliath with the words in I Samuel 17:26, “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the Living God!” We can be emboldened when we know we are standing fast in the truth of the eternal God of our salvation!
David didn’t go forth in Saul’s helmet and armor which were offered to him because he had not proven them (See I Samuel 17:38, 39). He would not entrust his life or his success to the untried weapons that were placed at his disposal, though they were those of the king!
Nor did he go forth to meet Goliath with just his slingshot and his five round stones. David knew he didn’t need armor or sophisticated weaponry to overcome the foe. He did not rely on the weapons that had sufficed him as a shepherd (I Samuel 17:35). He needed only the Lord, and David knew he walked with Him continually.
Let us appropriate that steadfast courage that comes from relationship to our God and King, our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ that will embolden us to have courage for every trial and victory for every battle. Let us, like David, be people “after God’s own heart” (I Samuel 13:13, 14) so we may boldly proclaim Him before the giants in our lives that must fall before Him.
Courage is knowing what not to fear. Plato
Sometimes, regarding courage or its antithesis, fear, we KNOW what we should do, we simply can't appropriate the where-with-all to do what we know we must. How do we appropriate the courage to step out in faith when the Lord calls us to overcome opposing forces around us so His name will be glorified?
May we look to David, who as a boy confronted the giant Goliath with the words in I Samuel 17:26, “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the Living God!” We can be emboldened when we know we are standing fast in the truth of the eternal God of our salvation!
David didn’t go forth in Saul’s helmet and armor which were offered to him because he had not proven them (See I Samuel 17:38, 39). He would not entrust his life or his success to the untried weapons that were placed at his disposal, though they were those of the king!
Nor did he go forth to meet Goliath with just his slingshot and his five round stones. David knew he didn’t need armor or sophisticated weaponry to overcome the foe. He did not rely on the weapons that had sufficed him as a shepherd (I Samuel 17:35). He needed only the Lord, and David knew he walked with Him continually.
Let us appropriate that steadfast courage that comes from relationship to our God and King, our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ that will embolden us to have courage for every trial and victory for every battle. Let us, like David, be people “after God’s own heart” (I Samuel 13:13, 14) so we may boldly proclaim Him before the giants in our lives that must fall before Him.
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Proclaim Him Boldly
February 21
Courage is reckoned the greatest of all virtues; because, unless a man has that virtue, he has no security for preserving any other. Samuel Johnson
Courage is something you need. Because there are godless men who trample truth under their feet and disdain those who are vessels into whom the Lord has poured Himself, the believer must ever be vigilant. The person of faith must be possessed of holy boldness that transcends his own strength and courage and taps into the power of the Almighty who has promised to give believers the insight of the Holy Spirit.
He will teach you what you should say. He will guard your lips and teach you when to speak and when to be silent as the Lord tells us in Luke 12:12 and in John 14:26. God has said that we could stand before kings and princes, Proverbs 22:29, and if we do, we may speak boldly before them because the truth we contain must be heard by all men.
Whether we stand before congregations that hunger for the truth we hold within us, or whether we stand before skeptics, or whether we stand before enemies of the Gospel who would torture and kill us because of Whose we are, we must speak as the Holy spirit gives us utterance (see Acts 2:4).
Because you are a person of faith, you know that Jesus is your Source, wherever you go, whatever you do. Whether you speak or remain silent at any of life’s crossroads should be determined by the Holy Spirit within you, not by your own determination.
Pray fervently that you will be endued with the courage to proclaim Christ boldly in power, hope, faith, confident expectation and love--virtues you cannot appropriate on your own but for which you must rely upon Jesus, trusting Ephesians 3:20, that as you courageously proclaim Him, “He will do exceeding, abundantly above all you can ask or think, according to His power at work within you.”
Courage is reckoned the greatest of all virtues; because, unless a man has that virtue, he has no security for preserving any other. Samuel Johnson
Courage is something you need. Because there are godless men who trample truth under their feet and disdain those who are vessels into whom the Lord has poured Himself, the believer must ever be vigilant. The person of faith must be possessed of holy boldness that transcends his own strength and courage and taps into the power of the Almighty who has promised to give believers the insight of the Holy Spirit.
He will teach you what you should say. He will guard your lips and teach you when to speak and when to be silent as the Lord tells us in Luke 12:12 and in John 14:26. God has said that we could stand before kings and princes, Proverbs 22:29, and if we do, we may speak boldly before them because the truth we contain must be heard by all men.
Whether we stand before congregations that hunger for the truth we hold within us, or whether we stand before skeptics, or whether we stand before enemies of the Gospel who would torture and kill us because of Whose we are, we must speak as the Holy spirit gives us utterance (see Acts 2:4).
Because you are a person of faith, you know that Jesus is your Source, wherever you go, whatever you do. Whether you speak or remain silent at any of life’s crossroads should be determined by the Holy Spirit within you, not by your own determination.
Pray fervently that you will be endued with the courage to proclaim Christ boldly in power, hope, faith, confident expectation and love--virtues you cannot appropriate on your own but for which you must rely upon Jesus, trusting Ephesians 3:20, that as you courageously proclaim Him, “He will do exceeding, abundantly above all you can ask or think, according to His power at work within you.”
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Propelling You Forward
February 20
Good timber does not grow with ease; the stronger the wind, the stronger the trees. J. Willard Marriott
By Marriott's definition, any time of adversity is a time of strengthening for you. Life would be much simpler if the winds of difficulty and struggle would not blow against your plans, but the reality of existence on this planet is that they will —and often! Jesus said, “In the world you shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world,” John 16:33.
His Word also tells us that the “rain falls on the just and on the unjust; the sun shines on the just and on the unjust,” Matthew 5:45, so we know that both trials and blessings are universal. Part of the blessing of adversity is that you have the Lord with you through it—and His presence makes you strong. His Word tells us that His Spirit comes as "a mighty, rushing wind," Acts 2:2 and that His people receive power in the wind of His coming.
Ultimately, it is only Jesus who enables us to be strong. His Word says, "Without Me, you can do nothing," John 15:5, and that is absolutely true. Without Him, we cannot even take our next step or think our next thought or inhale our next breath, but He also assures through the wonderful words of the Apostle Paul, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me," Philippians 4:13. As you recognize your own inability to navigate through life’s difficult times and His complete ability to help you to do so, you will be more resolute in your determination to proceed to the next chapter of your life.
Fellow believers, including those who are among Heaven’s “great cloud of witnesses,” Hebrews 12:1, support you with their prayers, their faith and their love. They want you to have the "joy of the Lord, which is your strength," Nehemiah 8:10 as you progress toward the deliverance you are seeking from the oppression of the evil one. They want you to lean on Jesus' strong arm and His matchless love for you to give stability to each step you take and to infuse your weakness with His power.
Because "He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all you can ask or think, according to His power at work within you," I Peter 5:7 you may be confident that He will help you to realize your hopes and fulfill your dreams and exceed your expectations for the good blessings you desire from His loving hand. The Christ you love and trust has promised, "I will never fail you nor forsake you," Hebrews 13:5, and His Word assures us that He, "does all things well," Mark 7:37.
With His truth in your mind, with His faith in your spirit, with His love in your heart, with His Word on your lips, may you go forward into the fullness of all the good things He has for you, knowing that the wind that propels you forward is the Spirit of God, the breath of God, and that in blowing upon you, He is giving you strength.
Good timber does not grow with ease; the stronger the wind, the stronger the trees. J. Willard Marriott
By Marriott's definition, any time of adversity is a time of strengthening for you. Life would be much simpler if the winds of difficulty and struggle would not blow against your plans, but the reality of existence on this planet is that they will —and often! Jesus said, “In the world you shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world,” John 16:33.
His Word also tells us that the “rain falls on the just and on the unjust; the sun shines on the just and on the unjust,” Matthew 5:45, so we know that both trials and blessings are universal. Part of the blessing of adversity is that you have the Lord with you through it—and His presence makes you strong. His Word tells us that His Spirit comes as "a mighty, rushing wind," Acts 2:2 and that His people receive power in the wind of His coming.
Ultimately, it is only Jesus who enables us to be strong. His Word says, "Without Me, you can do nothing," John 15:5, and that is absolutely true. Without Him, we cannot even take our next step or think our next thought or inhale our next breath, but He also assures through the wonderful words of the Apostle Paul, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me," Philippians 4:13. As you recognize your own inability to navigate through life’s difficult times and His complete ability to help you to do so, you will be more resolute in your determination to proceed to the next chapter of your life.
Fellow believers, including those who are among Heaven’s “great cloud of witnesses,” Hebrews 12:1, support you with their prayers, their faith and their love. They want you to have the "joy of the Lord, which is your strength," Nehemiah 8:10 as you progress toward the deliverance you are seeking from the oppression of the evil one. They want you to lean on Jesus' strong arm and His matchless love for you to give stability to each step you take and to infuse your weakness with His power.
Because "He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all you can ask or think, according to His power at work within you," I Peter 5:7 you may be confident that He will help you to realize your hopes and fulfill your dreams and exceed your expectations for the good blessings you desire from His loving hand. The Christ you love and trust has promised, "I will never fail you nor forsake you," Hebrews 13:5, and His Word assures us that He, "does all things well," Mark 7:37.
With His truth in your mind, with His faith in your spirit, with His love in your heart, with His Word on your lips, may you go forward into the fullness of all the good things He has for you, knowing that the wind that propels you forward is the Spirit of God, the breath of God, and that in blowing upon you, He is giving you strength.
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
It's for You
February 19
"Adversity has the effect of eliciting talents, which in prosperous circumstances would have lain dormant." Horace
When you step out in the power of the Word of Truth, in the assurance that “Christ in you is indeed your hope of glory,” Colossians 1:27, because He has chosen to reveal Himself to unbelievers through you, you will begin to grasp the reality that every adversity you face is toward the end that those around you will be drawn to the Lord by His power revealed through you. You will discover strength within yourself that you didn't realize you possess and you will have the opportunity to discover resources you were unaware are available to you. Furthermore, those who doubt the Christ you serve will be made aware of His power—alive and mighty—as it is revealed through you.
But a Christian cannot go on to an up-lifting, godly mindset as long as he clings to depressing, un-godly attitudes or perceptions. We know God is an advocate of performing every task as unto the Lord (Colossians 3:23), and He doesn’t want His people to capitulate in any matter of spiritual import, but He would not have the believer to spend himself on futile or ungodly causes. He would, instead, have the person of faith to be discerning of what is worthy of his resolve and what is not.
Whatever way your effort is going, whatever corner you must turn, be aware that when you are pursuing the Lord’s ends and endeavoring to labor in the behalf of His Kingdom’s purposes, His eye will guide you, His holy angels will guard you, His Holy Spirit will teach you and Jesus will prosper the work you are doing. HE stands with you to support you and to love you and to guide you and to bless you whenever you are striving to achieve what you must do to fulfill His will for you.
Any adversity you face will only serve to further His purposes in you and through you, as all things must, for His promise that all things work together for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28) is unshakable--and it is for you.
"Adversity has the effect of eliciting talents, which in prosperous circumstances would have lain dormant." Horace
When you step out in the power of the Word of Truth, in the assurance that “Christ in you is indeed your hope of glory,” Colossians 1:27, because He has chosen to reveal Himself to unbelievers through you, you will begin to grasp the reality that every adversity you face is toward the end that those around you will be drawn to the Lord by His power revealed through you. You will discover strength within yourself that you didn't realize you possess and you will have the opportunity to discover resources you were unaware are available to you. Furthermore, those who doubt the Christ you serve will be made aware of His power—alive and mighty—as it is revealed through you.
But a Christian cannot go on to an up-lifting, godly mindset as long as he clings to depressing, un-godly attitudes or perceptions. We know God is an advocate of performing every task as unto the Lord (Colossians 3:23), and He doesn’t want His people to capitulate in any matter of spiritual import, but He would not have the believer to spend himself on futile or ungodly causes. He would, instead, have the person of faith to be discerning of what is worthy of his resolve and what is not.
Whatever way your effort is going, whatever corner you must turn, be aware that when you are pursuing the Lord’s ends and endeavoring to labor in the behalf of His Kingdom’s purposes, His eye will guide you, His holy angels will guard you, His Holy Spirit will teach you and Jesus will prosper the work you are doing. HE stands with you to support you and to love you and to guide you and to bless you whenever you are striving to achieve what you must do to fulfill His will for you.
Any adversity you face will only serve to further His purposes in you and through you, as all things must, for His promise that all things work together for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28) is unshakable--and it is for you.
Monday, February 18, 2013
Headwind
February 18
"When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it." Henry Ford
God stands solidly with you as you forge into the adverse wind that is blowing into your life. I believe with you that just as the airplane must rise against the wind and the pull of gravity, so will you. Sometimes, as with a giant aircraft, it seems the rise is impossible. How can a jumbo jet overcome gravity to become aloft? How can a massive assemblage of metal bolts and screws rise against one of earth’s most powerful forces? How can you ever overcome the forces that hold you back and keep you down? But the aircraft does, and so will you. Perhaps you can't manage in your own strength, but you aren't dependent upon your own strength (II Corinthians 12:9).
Just as takeoff in an airplane requires airspeed, so our lives require us to "run the race set before us," Hebrews 12:1. A principle of flight is that airspeed is a measure of how fast the air is flowing over the airplane, not a measure of how fast the airplane is traveling. If the airplane is flying into a headwind, its airspeed is increased, which is why airplanes take off into the wind. So, if the Lord allows us to encounter headwind, it's because He knows ultimately the seeming adversity will enable our spirits to rise faster and higher than if we were encountering winds that appeared more favorable.
Why would it be necessary for God to allow this? We can't see into the future, but we know HE always has a purpose in everything. Jesus uses things we go through to equip us for future tasks. Just as the airplane encounters headwinds to enable it to soar, so He allows us to encounter difficulties that we must rise above in order that our spirits rise into a higher realm of faith and trust and RELATIONSHIP with HIM! Because of this, we are advantaged in at least two ways--first and foremost, we gain knowledge of Jesus and His love for us that we cannot receive when things are going well. The reality of the human frame is that we draw closer to the Lord when we feel most helpless and broken. He uses our helplessness to become our HELP. He uses our brokenness to STRENGTHEN US WITH HIS INDEFATIGABLE STRENGTH!
Secondly, He uses the faith and strength we acquire as we draw nearer to Him to enable us to help others who suffer. We cannot have empathy with people whose lives are fraught with trial and disappointment and sorrow if we have never encountered and overcome trial and disappointment and sorrow ourselves. Though it appears that our suffering is pointless as we go through it, when it has been overcome by the power of the Christ who is at work in our lives, we will see the lessons of the trial and appreciate the victories won through the trial. HE uses the challenging experiences of our lives to equip us to touch the lives of people we could never have reached, for we could not have understood their pain without enduring our own. He uses the things we have overcome to lift others from the pit of their need to the pinnacle of His help.
Jesus is equipping you through the discomfiture you face to be an even more committed Christian with a more definitive purpose in the Kingdom's work than you ever could have been apart from the strength you are gaining through Jesus as you wrestle with adversity. Remember, when you are weak, you are strong (II Corinthians 12:10), for the power of Jesus is more completely free to work in you when you are most reliant upon Him.
"When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it." Henry Ford
God stands solidly with you as you forge into the adverse wind that is blowing into your life. I believe with you that just as the airplane must rise against the wind and the pull of gravity, so will you. Sometimes, as with a giant aircraft, it seems the rise is impossible. How can a jumbo jet overcome gravity to become aloft? How can a massive assemblage of metal bolts and screws rise against one of earth’s most powerful forces? How can you ever overcome the forces that hold you back and keep you down? But the aircraft does, and so will you. Perhaps you can't manage in your own strength, but you aren't dependent upon your own strength (II Corinthians 12:9).
Just as takeoff in an airplane requires airspeed, so our lives require us to "run the race set before us," Hebrews 12:1. A principle of flight is that airspeed is a measure of how fast the air is flowing over the airplane, not a measure of how fast the airplane is traveling. If the airplane is flying into a headwind, its airspeed is increased, which is why airplanes take off into the wind. So, if the Lord allows us to encounter headwind, it's because He knows ultimately the seeming adversity will enable our spirits to rise faster and higher than if we were encountering winds that appeared more favorable.
Why would it be necessary for God to allow this? We can't see into the future, but we know HE always has a purpose in everything. Jesus uses things we go through to equip us for future tasks. Just as the airplane encounters headwinds to enable it to soar, so He allows us to encounter difficulties that we must rise above in order that our spirits rise into a higher realm of faith and trust and RELATIONSHIP with HIM! Because of this, we are advantaged in at least two ways--first and foremost, we gain knowledge of Jesus and His love for us that we cannot receive when things are going well. The reality of the human frame is that we draw closer to the Lord when we feel most helpless and broken. He uses our helplessness to become our HELP. He uses our brokenness to STRENGTHEN US WITH HIS INDEFATIGABLE STRENGTH!
Secondly, He uses the faith and strength we acquire as we draw nearer to Him to enable us to help others who suffer. We cannot have empathy with people whose lives are fraught with trial and disappointment and sorrow if we have never encountered and overcome trial and disappointment and sorrow ourselves. Though it appears that our suffering is pointless as we go through it, when it has been overcome by the power of the Christ who is at work in our lives, we will see the lessons of the trial and appreciate the victories won through the trial. HE uses the challenging experiences of our lives to equip us to touch the lives of people we could never have reached, for we could not have understood their pain without enduring our own. He uses the things we have overcome to lift others from the pit of their need to the pinnacle of His help.
Jesus is equipping you through the discomfiture you face to be an even more committed Christian with a more definitive purpose in the Kingdom's work than you ever could have been apart from the strength you are gaining through Jesus as you wrestle with adversity. Remember, when you are weak, you are strong (II Corinthians 12:10), for the power of Jesus is more completely free to work in you when you are most reliant upon Him.
Sunday, February 17, 2013
Ultimate Victory
February 17
"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." Abraham Lincoln
A companion to the statement by President Lincoln is that of Lord Acton, “Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely.” A friend who has been a teacher and companion and counselor to kings and princes says that it is his observation that when small men received power they are corrupted terribly by it.
And it is our observation in day-to-day life among our day-to-day acquaintances that as people increase in position and wealth they become a mere shadow of who they could have been, of who the Lord wanted them to be. It seems as they attain power over others, they lose power over themselves. (See Proverbs 16:32.)
Where they had once seemed honorable and righteous, they become controlling and dogmatic. Where they had once been possessed of a noble character they become ignoble. Where once they were sterling in virtue, they have become a baser version of themselves with a mere veneer of sterling to cover the corruption of their souls.
They flaunt their superiority and weld their control over those in their sphere of influence without grace or kindness; they are little tyrants. Their infantile self-centeredness is unable to concern itself with the well-being of others, much as a baby has little regard for any needs but his own. This mindset manifests itself in the spiritual realm as well, for such an individual is the center of his religion and the author of his salvation.
Although he may profess faith in the Savior, he has staked his claim to salvation on his own understanding of and meticulous compliance with the law as he perceives it rather than on the law of love that Jesus embodies and commands in John 13:34-35 where He said, “A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, also love one another. By this shall all know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” The self-righteous and legalistic man can mouth the words of the faith but he does not live them.
The conclusion we can draw from what we see is that adversity is our friend because it keeps us before the throne of mercy and grace. It keeps us at the feet of Jesus where we can be refreshed daily in the warmth of the assurance of His love and forgiveness. Where we can lay claim to the beauty He gives us for ashes, for the oil of joy He gives us for mourning, for the garment of praise He places upon us in exchange for the spirit of heaviness. (See Isaiah 61:3.)
It is in His presence that we discover that “the joy of the Lord” truly is “our strength,” Nehemiah 8:10, whereas our own power will reveal our weakness. In our weakness and lack, we discover Christ to be our strength and our sufficiency. Instead of increasing in the pompous arrogance of our own power, let us become fully reliant on the power of Jesus which is at work in us and through us. It is the power which we can be sure will ultimately gain us a total victory over our enemies, over our adverse circumstances and over ourselves.
"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." Abraham Lincoln
A companion to the statement by President Lincoln is that of Lord Acton, “Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely.” A friend who has been a teacher and companion and counselor to kings and princes says that it is his observation that when small men received power they are corrupted terribly by it.
And it is our observation in day-to-day life among our day-to-day acquaintances that as people increase in position and wealth they become a mere shadow of who they could have been, of who the Lord wanted them to be. It seems as they attain power over others, they lose power over themselves. (See Proverbs 16:32.)
Where they had once seemed honorable and righteous, they become controlling and dogmatic. Where they had once been possessed of a noble character they become ignoble. Where once they were sterling in virtue, they have become a baser version of themselves with a mere veneer of sterling to cover the corruption of their souls.
They flaunt their superiority and weld their control over those in their sphere of influence without grace or kindness; they are little tyrants. Their infantile self-centeredness is unable to concern itself with the well-being of others, much as a baby has little regard for any needs but his own. This mindset manifests itself in the spiritual realm as well, for such an individual is the center of his religion and the author of his salvation.
Although he may profess faith in the Savior, he has staked his claim to salvation on his own understanding of and meticulous compliance with the law as he perceives it rather than on the law of love that Jesus embodies and commands in John 13:34-35 where He said, “A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, also love one another. By this shall all know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” The self-righteous and legalistic man can mouth the words of the faith but he does not live them.
The conclusion we can draw from what we see is that adversity is our friend because it keeps us before the throne of mercy and grace. It keeps us at the feet of Jesus where we can be refreshed daily in the warmth of the assurance of His love and forgiveness. Where we can lay claim to the beauty He gives us for ashes, for the oil of joy He gives us for mourning, for the garment of praise He places upon us in exchange for the spirit of heaviness. (See Isaiah 61:3.)
It is in His presence that we discover that “the joy of the Lord” truly is “our strength,” Nehemiah 8:10, whereas our own power will reveal our weakness. In our weakness and lack, we discover Christ to be our strength and our sufficiency. Instead of increasing in the pompous arrogance of our own power, let us become fully reliant on the power of Jesus which is at work in us and through us. It is the power which we can be sure will ultimately gain us a total victory over our enemies, over our adverse circumstances and over ourselves.
Saturday, February 16, 2013
Perception
February 16
Men in general judge more from appearances than from reality. All men have eyes, but few have the gift of perception. Niccolo Machiavelli
How true it is that we overlook much because we simply do not, cannot perceive the reality of what it is that we are viewing. Perhaps our problem originates in the fact that we see with our natural eyes but life is bound to the spiritual realm where our vision is obscure. It isn't that we don't want to see or try to see. It's that our natural eyes are incapable of discerning the spiritual realm where absolute truth dwells.
We long to see Jesus face-to-face, for in seeing Him, we know we will see reality, but often our natural vision is clouded and therefore incapable of perceiving the realm of the spirit where Jesus is most evident...the Word tells us that "God is a Spirit and they who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth," John 4:4.
So we continue with our opaque view of life, with our ability to discern clouded by the vagaries of what men say and do as opposed to what they really think a feel. We pursue our goals, knowing they are indefinite at best because we see them so indistinctly. We cannot define our progress because we can't clearly grasp where we are in relationship to where we want to be. At best we are confused. At worst, we are totally lost. But, Jesus is neither confused nor lost.
In the midst of the consternation that is generated through our frustration we see a glimmer of light that reminds us that the One who is light has promised to be "...a lamp to my feet and a light to my path," Psalm 119:105. We realize that Jesus knows the way we take (Job 23:10) and He has promised that when the trial we face is over, we shall, “…come forth as gold.”
This comes with a prayer that you will be able to see with the clarity of vision that comes with reality rather than from mere appearances; that you will have the gift of true sight that includes perception. When you see as HE sees, feel as HE feels, love as HE loves, you will understand the present and recognize the next step you must take toward the future. I pray with all my heart that Jesus gives you the clarity of vision to discern the path you are to take. In discerning the path you will clearly perceive the One who is “the way, the truth, the life,” John 14:6.
Men in general judge more from appearances than from reality. All men have eyes, but few have the gift of perception. Niccolo Machiavelli
How true it is that we overlook much because we simply do not, cannot perceive the reality of what it is that we are viewing. Perhaps our problem originates in the fact that we see with our natural eyes but life is bound to the spiritual realm where our vision is obscure. It isn't that we don't want to see or try to see. It's that our natural eyes are incapable of discerning the spiritual realm where absolute truth dwells.
We long to see Jesus face-to-face, for in seeing Him, we know we will see reality, but often our natural vision is clouded and therefore incapable of perceiving the realm of the spirit where Jesus is most evident...the Word tells us that "God is a Spirit and they who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth," John 4:4.
So we continue with our opaque view of life, with our ability to discern clouded by the vagaries of what men say and do as opposed to what they really think a feel. We pursue our goals, knowing they are indefinite at best because we see them so indistinctly. We cannot define our progress because we can't clearly grasp where we are in relationship to where we want to be. At best we are confused. At worst, we are totally lost. But, Jesus is neither confused nor lost.
In the midst of the consternation that is generated through our frustration we see a glimmer of light that reminds us that the One who is light has promised to be "...a lamp to my feet and a light to my path," Psalm 119:105. We realize that Jesus knows the way we take (Job 23:10) and He has promised that when the trial we face is over, we shall, “…come forth as gold.”
This comes with a prayer that you will be able to see with the clarity of vision that comes with reality rather than from mere appearances; that you will have the gift of true sight that includes perception. When you see as HE sees, feel as HE feels, love as HE loves, you will understand the present and recognize the next step you must take toward the future. I pray with all my heart that Jesus gives you the clarity of vision to discern the path you are to take. In discerning the path you will clearly perceive the One who is “the way, the truth, the life,” John 14:6.
Friday, February 15, 2013
Don't Fear The Climb
February 15
It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves. Edmund Hillary
Although Sir Edmund Hillary had overcome one of the most formidable challenges ever tackled, and although he succeeded where others had failed, he knew that climbing Mt. Everest had not been the greatest challenge of his life. That was the loss of his wife and daughter in an airplane crash some years after he had conquered Everest. Perhaps before that, his greatest challenge had been the transformation that had been required of him--from bee-keeper in New Zealand to conqueror of the highest mountain in the world.
He knew the mountain posed enormous challenges, but they paled significantly when compared to the challenge of overcoming the 'self', of overcoming those attitudes and mindsets within each of us that keep us from venturing the climb; overcoming those circumstances that render us bound to the safe zones. Perhaps the biggest challenge of all is discerning the difference between those things we can tackle and overcome with resolution, and those that can't be budged by our determination.
The words of Reinhold Niebuhr ring true..."Lord, give me the courage to change the things I can change and the willingness to accept the things I cannot change; and give me the wisdom to know the difference." Hillary could have looked at the mountain and pondered the reality that an expert climber, Mallory, had perished in the attempt. But he didn't. He had climbed in the Alps and he had climbed in the Himalayas and he had the courage to pursue the more formidable peak rather than to accept defeat before even attempting the climb.
Sometimes we have before us the same options--recognizing the potential for failure or the possible exhilaration of accomplishment and appropriating the wisdom to discern which option is right. Important to our decision is our timing. As wisdom itself admonishes us, we must know when to speak and when to be silent (Ecclesiastes 3:7). Our words, though right, though powerful, though needful, if spoken at the wrong time will fail to achieve their intended purpose. If spoken aptly, they can be, as the Word says, "apples of gold in pictures of silver" (Proverbs 25:11).
I pray for you the wisdom of Solomon who understood the value of ascertaining things as God perceives them, who, when told by God to ask for anything he wanted, did not request of Him wealth or power or victory in battle, but for wisdom to lead the nation over which he had been made king. (I Kings 3:5-9). May you possess the wisdom to desire God's heart as regards the circumstances in your life.
May you overcome the twin peaks of doubt and dread within yourself that would keep you at the foot of the mountain and may you resist the temptation to attempt to scale them at an inopportune season. Only God can give you the wisdom Niebuhr requested of Him—to know the difference between fear that would hold you back and the Lord who would bid you wait a more opportune season. And may He also give you the courage of the beekeeper who didn't fear the climb at its appointed time.
It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves. Edmund Hillary
Although Sir Edmund Hillary had overcome one of the most formidable challenges ever tackled, and although he succeeded where others had failed, he knew that climbing Mt. Everest had not been the greatest challenge of his life. That was the loss of his wife and daughter in an airplane crash some years after he had conquered Everest. Perhaps before that, his greatest challenge had been the transformation that had been required of him--from bee-keeper in New Zealand to conqueror of the highest mountain in the world.
He knew the mountain posed enormous challenges, but they paled significantly when compared to the challenge of overcoming the 'self', of overcoming those attitudes and mindsets within each of us that keep us from venturing the climb; overcoming those circumstances that render us bound to the safe zones. Perhaps the biggest challenge of all is discerning the difference between those things we can tackle and overcome with resolution, and those that can't be budged by our determination.
The words of Reinhold Niebuhr ring true..."Lord, give me the courage to change the things I can change and the willingness to accept the things I cannot change; and give me the wisdom to know the difference." Hillary could have looked at the mountain and pondered the reality that an expert climber, Mallory, had perished in the attempt. But he didn't. He had climbed in the Alps and he had climbed in the Himalayas and he had the courage to pursue the more formidable peak rather than to accept defeat before even attempting the climb.
Sometimes we have before us the same options--recognizing the potential for failure or the possible exhilaration of accomplishment and appropriating the wisdom to discern which option is right. Important to our decision is our timing. As wisdom itself admonishes us, we must know when to speak and when to be silent (Ecclesiastes 3:7). Our words, though right, though powerful, though needful, if spoken at the wrong time will fail to achieve their intended purpose. If spoken aptly, they can be, as the Word says, "apples of gold in pictures of silver" (Proverbs 25:11).
I pray for you the wisdom of Solomon who understood the value of ascertaining things as God perceives them, who, when told by God to ask for anything he wanted, did not request of Him wealth or power or victory in battle, but for wisdom to lead the nation over which he had been made king. (I Kings 3:5-9). May you possess the wisdom to desire God's heart as regards the circumstances in your life.
May you overcome the twin peaks of doubt and dread within yourself that would keep you at the foot of the mountain and may you resist the temptation to attempt to scale them at an inopportune season. Only God can give you the wisdom Niebuhr requested of Him—to know the difference between fear that would hold you back and the Lord who would bid you wait a more opportune season. And may He also give you the courage of the beekeeper who didn't fear the climb at its appointed time.
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Victory!
February 14
You have to learn the rules of the game. And then you have to play better than anyone else. Albert Einstein
Far be it from me to dispute something said by one of the most brilliant men who ever lived, but it seems to me that before you can begin to learn the rules of the game, you have to decide which game you're going to play. We can turn the TV on virtually any evening in the Fall to see skillful athletes engaging in a contest of American football, but in the Spring, everyone's interest turns to basketball or tennis or swimming. The opportunities for playing the game are extremely varied. For some of us who are less active, a game of checkers might be our forte. Once one has decided his field of endeavor, he can become skilled in its pursuit and one can select a team to join -- or follow.
In the Game of Life, we have to decided whose team we will join. Will we play for Jesus, or will we ply our skills in the behalf of His mortal enemy? The rules are entirely different, for if we are on the Lord's team, He expects us to employ the gifts of the Spirit to further our game. He wants us to allow our efforts to be governed by faith, hope, love, joy, peace, temperance, gentleness, forgiveness, meekness. The opposing team is noted for its departure from those rules. It plays skillfully employing deceit, doubt, despair, condemnation, unforgiveness. Indeed, it will counter each of the Lord's rules for His team with its direct opposite.
As in any contest, those who engage in the Game of Life may be ahead or behind at any point in the game, but ultimately there are two distinct outcomes for those who engage in the conflict. Those who play for God's enemy will find themselves among the minions of hell for eternity. The more skillfully they have played, the more profound will be their anguish in that place where "the worm dies not" (Mark 9:44, 46, 48).
Those who play for Jesus will ultimately find themselves to be total overcomers as they share in the victory Jesus has provided for them by His shed blood. Because they allowed themselves to wear His colors--the blood-bought robe of righteousness that is bathed in His crimson blood--and because they allowed themselves to participate in life's contest by His rules of engagement, and because Jesus alone was their Coach, they must be, "more than conquerors through Jesus who loves them," Romans 8:37.
Shouldn't we then affirm that no matter how disadvantaged we may appear at times to be, no matter how negatively the world and its minions may perceive us, we will be resolute in our determination to play for Jesus! We have Him as our example of victory—He who hung on a cross and died for our sin appeared to be a loser in the eyes of the world! (See I Corinthians 1:18) But ultimately, HE is the only true Victor! No one else—spirit or mortal—can make that claim! Demons are bound for hell and man will follow unless he joins the victory train of Jesus, the One who won the game in man’s behalf.
You have to learn the rules of the game. And then you have to play better than anyone else. Albert Einstein
Far be it from me to dispute something said by one of the most brilliant men who ever lived, but it seems to me that before you can begin to learn the rules of the game, you have to decide which game you're going to play. We can turn the TV on virtually any evening in the Fall to see skillful athletes engaging in a contest of American football, but in the Spring, everyone's interest turns to basketball or tennis or swimming. The opportunities for playing the game are extremely varied. For some of us who are less active, a game of checkers might be our forte. Once one has decided his field of endeavor, he can become skilled in its pursuit and one can select a team to join -- or follow.
In the Game of Life, we have to decided whose team we will join. Will we play for Jesus, or will we ply our skills in the behalf of His mortal enemy? The rules are entirely different, for if we are on the Lord's team, He expects us to employ the gifts of the Spirit to further our game. He wants us to allow our efforts to be governed by faith, hope, love, joy, peace, temperance, gentleness, forgiveness, meekness. The opposing team is noted for its departure from those rules. It plays skillfully employing deceit, doubt, despair, condemnation, unforgiveness. Indeed, it will counter each of the Lord's rules for His team with its direct opposite.
As in any contest, those who engage in the Game of Life may be ahead or behind at any point in the game, but ultimately there are two distinct outcomes for those who engage in the conflict. Those who play for God's enemy will find themselves among the minions of hell for eternity. The more skillfully they have played, the more profound will be their anguish in that place where "the worm dies not" (Mark 9:44, 46, 48).
Those who play for Jesus will ultimately find themselves to be total overcomers as they share in the victory Jesus has provided for them by His shed blood. Because they allowed themselves to wear His colors--the blood-bought robe of righteousness that is bathed in His crimson blood--and because they allowed themselves to participate in life's contest by His rules of engagement, and because Jesus alone was their Coach, they must be, "more than conquerors through Jesus who loves them," Romans 8:37.
Shouldn't we then affirm that no matter how disadvantaged we may appear at times to be, no matter how negatively the world and its minions may perceive us, we will be resolute in our determination to play for Jesus! We have Him as our example of victory—He who hung on a cross and died for our sin appeared to be a loser in the eyes of the world! (See I Corinthians 1:18) But ultimately, HE is the only true Victor! No one else—spirit or mortal—can make that claim! Demons are bound for hell and man will follow unless he joins the victory train of Jesus, the One who won the game in man’s behalf.
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
God Speaks Today--To You
February 13
Speak, Lord, for Thy servant hears. Samuel the Prophet in I Samuel 3:10
God speaks in many ways (See: I Samuel 3:10, Luke 12:12, John 14:26, Acts 1:15-26 for just a few examples of God speaking to men.)
Sometimes the Lord will speak to your spirit. Sometimes Jesus will speak audibly through a human voice. Sometimes He may speak through an angel or in a dream. There is no limitation to His ability to communicate with His people, but He speaks most consistently through His Holy Word the Bible.
One of the loveliest times of His speaking to me was when I thought I had cast aspersions upon Him by declaring a prophetic word that seemed unlikely to come to pass. I was depressed at having made a fool of myself—and having made the God who speaks today appear to be a figment of my own imagination. But His message to me, which lifted my spirit and assured me He does indeed still speak to His people was, "There's a daughter of Mine…who thinks she's foolishly cast aspersions on Me because she spoke My word. I want her to know that tomorrow she shall see My glory."
The next day I encountered the person to whom I’d given the prophetic word and he told me he'd received a phone call the night before which affirmed the prophecy the Lord had spoken through me. The voice I had heard was a human voice but it conveyed God's message to me in a way I won't ever forget. But usually, when God speaks, He formulates His message within my own heart, in my own mind, where He allows me to gain an insight into His plan.
He does the same thing with you. He speaks to your feelings, to your hopes, to your dreams. Perhaps He speaks through the words you hear or read or through strangers who know nothing of your circumstances. But because He loves you, He does speak; because He loves you, He does desire to guide you, to affirm you, to lift you up. When something good comes along, that furthers the dreams and visions you have for yourself, give God the glory.
In so doing, you establish yourself as a candidate for hearing from Him again and again and again and again...Don't negate the encouragement you receive from Him, don't dismiss it, don't deny it. Embrace it, thank Him for it, for as you do, you demonstrate to yourself that your relationship with your Savior is alive and active; it is a reality that is the bedrock of your life. I trust the Lord to give you some encouragement every day, to speak to you through His “…still, small voice,” I Kings 19:11, 12, messages of hope and joy and truth and love.
Speak, Lord, for Thy servant hears. Samuel the Prophet in I Samuel 3:10
God speaks in many ways (See: I Samuel 3:10, Luke 12:12, John 14:26, Acts 1:15-26 for just a few examples of God speaking to men.)
Sometimes the Lord will speak to your spirit. Sometimes Jesus will speak audibly through a human voice. Sometimes He may speak through an angel or in a dream. There is no limitation to His ability to communicate with His people, but He speaks most consistently through His Holy Word the Bible.
One of the loveliest times of His speaking to me was when I thought I had cast aspersions upon Him by declaring a prophetic word that seemed unlikely to come to pass. I was depressed at having made a fool of myself—and having made the God who speaks today appear to be a figment of my own imagination. But His message to me, which lifted my spirit and assured me He does indeed still speak to His people was, "There's a daughter of Mine…who thinks she's foolishly cast aspersions on Me because she spoke My word. I want her to know that tomorrow she shall see My glory."
The next day I encountered the person to whom I’d given the prophetic word and he told me he'd received a phone call the night before which affirmed the prophecy the Lord had spoken through me. The voice I had heard was a human voice but it conveyed God's message to me in a way I won't ever forget. But usually, when God speaks, He formulates His message within my own heart, in my own mind, where He allows me to gain an insight into His plan.
He does the same thing with you. He speaks to your feelings, to your hopes, to your dreams. Perhaps He speaks through the words you hear or read or through strangers who know nothing of your circumstances. But because He loves you, He does speak; because He loves you, He does desire to guide you, to affirm you, to lift you up. When something good comes along, that furthers the dreams and visions you have for yourself, give God the glory.
In so doing, you establish yourself as a candidate for hearing from Him again and again and again and again...Don't negate the encouragement you receive from Him, don't dismiss it, don't deny it. Embrace it, thank Him for it, for as you do, you demonstrate to yourself that your relationship with your Savior is alive and active; it is a reality that is the bedrock of your life. I trust the Lord to give you some encouragement every day, to speak to you through His “…still, small voice,” I Kings 19:11, 12, messages of hope and joy and truth and love.
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Blessed Diligence
February 12
Four steps to achievement: Plan purposefully. Prepare prayerfully. Proceed positively. Pursue persistently. William Arthur Ward
You have a very strong skill set that has equipped you for any task, any challenge that the Lord may set before you. Because He has set you apart for the specific mission He desires you to undertake in the behalf of His Kingdom, you will lend the touch of excellence to everything you set your mind and heart and will to do. The above-listed steps are part of your daily process.
You invest yourself diligently into the work you do and you bring an amazing level of professionalism amalgamated with grace to the labor you perform. Or you should, for the Bible tells us, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might,” Ecclesiastes 9:10 and “Whatever you do, work at it with all of your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men,” Colossians 3:23-25.
You bathe your endeavors in prayer, knowing that the integrity of your relationship with the Lord will spill over and enrich the lives of those with whom you labor. You understand the reality that God works in an unseen realm to do His work and to affect His will—and you trust Him, even when you do not see an immediate outcome for good. You know that God is purposeful and persistent and you emulate Him in pursuing the good aspects of His work.
All the excellent investment of yourself into the good purposes of God in your life has drawn the attention of the evil one. Because he comes to “steal, kill, and destroy,” John 10:10 he is ever about the mischief of endeavoring to undo the beautiful things the Lord is facilitating in you. Your challenge each day then is to remain fully aligned with Jesus. Recognize that HE is helping you avoid the destructive intent of the enemy of your soul.
In spite of his mischief and the minions he employs toward his ends, the Lord will enable you to go on to victory over the evil one. You will see the success of purposeful, prayerful, positive persistence--bathed in the power of the Lord! You will see the overcoming of wickedness. You will know victory because Jesus has conquered death, hell, and the grave in your behalf as prophesied in Hosea 13:14.
Jesus has said for your encouragement, "In the world you shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world," John 16:33. Be strong. The Jesus who loves you is greater than all the enemy hurls against you. Plan, pray, proceed, persist. Your diligence will bless you because HE will bless your diligence!
Four steps to achievement: Plan purposefully. Prepare prayerfully. Proceed positively. Pursue persistently. William Arthur Ward
You have a very strong skill set that has equipped you for any task, any challenge that the Lord may set before you. Because He has set you apart for the specific mission He desires you to undertake in the behalf of His Kingdom, you will lend the touch of excellence to everything you set your mind and heart and will to do. The above-listed steps are part of your daily process.
You invest yourself diligently into the work you do and you bring an amazing level of professionalism amalgamated with grace to the labor you perform. Or you should, for the Bible tells us, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might,” Ecclesiastes 9:10 and “Whatever you do, work at it with all of your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men,” Colossians 3:23-25.
You bathe your endeavors in prayer, knowing that the integrity of your relationship with the Lord will spill over and enrich the lives of those with whom you labor. You understand the reality that God works in an unseen realm to do His work and to affect His will—and you trust Him, even when you do not see an immediate outcome for good. You know that God is purposeful and persistent and you emulate Him in pursuing the good aspects of His work.
All the excellent investment of yourself into the good purposes of God in your life has drawn the attention of the evil one. Because he comes to “steal, kill, and destroy,” John 10:10 he is ever about the mischief of endeavoring to undo the beautiful things the Lord is facilitating in you. Your challenge each day then is to remain fully aligned with Jesus. Recognize that HE is helping you avoid the destructive intent of the enemy of your soul.
In spite of his mischief and the minions he employs toward his ends, the Lord will enable you to go on to victory over the evil one. You will see the success of purposeful, prayerful, positive persistence--bathed in the power of the Lord! You will see the overcoming of wickedness. You will know victory because Jesus has conquered death, hell, and the grave in your behalf as prophesied in Hosea 13:14.
Jesus has said for your encouragement, "In the world you shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world," John 16:33. Be strong. The Jesus who loves you is greater than all the enemy hurls against you. Plan, pray, proceed, persist. Your diligence will bless you because HE will bless your diligence!
Monday, February 11, 2013
On His Shoulder
February 11
Never mistake activity for achievement. John Wooden
Although the primary application for basketball coach John Wooden’s insight is physical action, there is a spiritual application. Some people busy themselves un-doing the work of God by endeavoring to place sins that have been forgiven, burdens that have been lifted, back on the shoulders of the one who’s been released from them. And in so doing, they place a grievous burden of sin upon themselves.
Isaiah 9:6 says something remarkable about the coming Savior. Here the prophet tells us, “…the government is upon His shoulder…” Those few words contain the seed of the plan of salvation. The government of God’s eternal Kingdom must be upon the shoulder of Jesus, because no one else has the ability to carry it!
We who are weak, fallen creatures are not able to bear the demands of the Kingdom of our Holy, Righteous God! We who are, “Wise (but truly foolish) in our own conceit…) Proverbs 26:12, have not the understanding to rule the Kingdom of the Lord of the Universe! But He says He wants us to rule and reign with Him! He says we will judge angels! (I Corinthians 6:3) How can we who have failed to obey His immutable law govern His Kingdom and judge His angels?
It’s because Jesus Christ has taken the burden of the government of the Kingdom upon His shoulder! When the cross of Calvary was laid across His sinless shoulder, the weight of the law was upon Him. The burden that we could not carry was given to Jesus to carry in our behalf—and He did carry it to Golgotha and to hell for us!
Because of what He has done, we are accounted righteous when we believe in Him (Romans 4:13). Because of what He has done, we are worthy to rule and reign in the heavenlies with our Lord and Savior. We do not need to be busy pursuing righteousness. We do not need to be busy pursuing holiness. Though they are required for mere residence in heaven, let alone ruling in heaven, we needn’t concern ourselves about them for Jesus has already supplied them for us!
He has taken the weight of them upon His shoulder. Because He has done so, He can invite us to, “Come unto Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest,” Matthew 11:28. Our Jesus is the KEYSTONE in the structure of our lives. We build all areas of our endeavors around that one great thing He has done for us—around the fact that He has taken upon His shoulder the weight of our sin and given in its place, “beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garland of praise for the spirit of heaviness,” Isaiah 61:3. He has given us salvation! Don’t let anyone lay the burdens of sin or sickness or failure or regret upon you again.
Never mistake activity for achievement. John Wooden
Although the primary application for basketball coach John Wooden’s insight is physical action, there is a spiritual application. Some people busy themselves un-doing the work of God by endeavoring to place sins that have been forgiven, burdens that have been lifted, back on the shoulders of the one who’s been released from them. And in so doing, they place a grievous burden of sin upon themselves.
Isaiah 9:6 says something remarkable about the coming Savior. Here the prophet tells us, “…the government is upon His shoulder…” Those few words contain the seed of the plan of salvation. The government of God’s eternal Kingdom must be upon the shoulder of Jesus, because no one else has the ability to carry it!
We who are weak, fallen creatures are not able to bear the demands of the Kingdom of our Holy, Righteous God! We who are, “Wise (but truly foolish) in our own conceit…) Proverbs 26:12, have not the understanding to rule the Kingdom of the Lord of the Universe! But He says He wants us to rule and reign with Him! He says we will judge angels! (I Corinthians 6:3) How can we who have failed to obey His immutable law govern His Kingdom and judge His angels?
It’s because Jesus Christ has taken the burden of the government of the Kingdom upon His shoulder! When the cross of Calvary was laid across His sinless shoulder, the weight of the law was upon Him. The burden that we could not carry was given to Jesus to carry in our behalf—and He did carry it to Golgotha and to hell for us!
Because of what He has done, we are accounted righteous when we believe in Him (Romans 4:13). Because of what He has done, we are worthy to rule and reign in the heavenlies with our Lord and Savior. We do not need to be busy pursuing righteousness. We do not need to be busy pursuing holiness. Though they are required for mere residence in heaven, let alone ruling in heaven, we needn’t concern ourselves about them for Jesus has already supplied them for us!
He has taken the weight of them upon His shoulder. Because He has done so, He can invite us to, “Come unto Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest,” Matthew 11:28. Our Jesus is the KEYSTONE in the structure of our lives. We build all areas of our endeavors around that one great thing He has done for us—around the fact that He has taken upon His shoulder the weight of our sin and given in its place, “beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garland of praise for the spirit of heaviness,” Isaiah 61:3. He has given us salvation! Don’t let anyone lay the burdens of sin or sickness or failure or regret upon you again.
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Launch His Angels Into Flight
February 10
All God's angels come to us disguised. James Russell Lowell
Most of us will never see angels—at least we won't know we have. The Word tells us that we should be careful to entertain strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unaware, Hebrews 13:2. Occasionally the opportunity may come to us to extend the kindness of heaven. The angel may be disguised in a way that rather than allow us to see the touch of heaven, we can see only the fact that someone has need of our touch upon them!
Perhaps when a friend comes to us in a great quandary and we are able to speak a word that clarifies the muddle in his mind, or when a child enters our sphere who yearns for nothing more than the touch of love we are able to lavish into his life, or it may be when wisdom and truth seem as little more than relics of a forgotten age and we are able to employ them with grace—perhaps at these times we become the angels God uses in this fallen world that so often disappoints Him. Perhaps we become His joy when we allow ourselves to be used as angels of hope in the ordinary drudgery of life.
And if we, fallen, needy mortals that we are can be instruments in God's hand who are used to infuse goodness into the world, does that not make us more angel than mortal? Does that not render our service to Jesus of paramount importance toward the accomplishment of divine purpose in a broken world? As we look around us and see how far man has fallen from grace—whether the legalistic, self-righteous tyrant in our own sphere or whether the murderous mob that takes delight in burning flags and dragging dead bodies through the streets, can we not recognize how important we are in Jesus' scheme of things to counter such wickedness!
John Kennedy’s, "If not us, who? If not here, where? If not now, when?" becomes more than catchy words to inspire the voting public; his words become insights we must take to heart and employ each day with fervor! For if I don't serve the purposes of Christ in the mayhem of this fallen world, who will? If I do not do it right here, where I am today, where might I have a better opportunity to do so? And if I do not do it now, when circumstances challenge me most, when will I have a better time to allow Christ in me to be the Hope of glory (Colossians 1:27) that He says He is!
Let the Lord of life allow the life we have to be the springboard that launches His angels into flight! Let today's opportunities cause us to soar into realms of hope and glory where man can only aspire to achieve great things but where angels can go with absolute certainty that they are sent by the Lord in order that He may accomplish great things through them. Walk in the power of the angels of truth and hope and joy and light and confident faith and unquenchable love that you are today in the hand of the Christ who loves you.
All God's angels come to us disguised. James Russell Lowell
Most of us will never see angels—at least we won't know we have. The Word tells us that we should be careful to entertain strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unaware, Hebrews 13:2. Occasionally the opportunity may come to us to extend the kindness of heaven. The angel may be disguised in a way that rather than allow us to see the touch of heaven, we can see only the fact that someone has need of our touch upon them!
Perhaps when a friend comes to us in a great quandary and we are able to speak a word that clarifies the muddle in his mind, or when a child enters our sphere who yearns for nothing more than the touch of love we are able to lavish into his life, or it may be when wisdom and truth seem as little more than relics of a forgotten age and we are able to employ them with grace—perhaps at these times we become the angels God uses in this fallen world that so often disappoints Him. Perhaps we become His joy when we allow ourselves to be used as angels of hope in the ordinary drudgery of life.
And if we, fallen, needy mortals that we are can be instruments in God's hand who are used to infuse goodness into the world, does that not make us more angel than mortal? Does that not render our service to Jesus of paramount importance toward the accomplishment of divine purpose in a broken world? As we look around us and see how far man has fallen from grace—whether the legalistic, self-righteous tyrant in our own sphere or whether the murderous mob that takes delight in burning flags and dragging dead bodies through the streets, can we not recognize how important we are in Jesus' scheme of things to counter such wickedness!
John Kennedy’s, "If not us, who? If not here, where? If not now, when?" becomes more than catchy words to inspire the voting public; his words become insights we must take to heart and employ each day with fervor! For if I don't serve the purposes of Christ in the mayhem of this fallen world, who will? If I do not do it right here, where I am today, where might I have a better opportunity to do so? And if I do not do it now, when circumstances challenge me most, when will I have a better time to allow Christ in me to be the Hope of glory (Colossians 1:27) that He says He is!
Let the Lord of life allow the life we have to be the springboard that launches His angels into flight! Let today's opportunities cause us to soar into realms of hope and glory where man can only aspire to achieve great things but where angels can go with absolute certainty that they are sent by the Lord in order that He may accomplish great things through them. Walk in the power of the angels of truth and hope and joy and light and confident faith and unquenchable love that you are today in the hand of the Christ who loves you.
Saturday, February 9, 2013
Our Goals/Our Choices
February 9
We can make our own choices. We get to choose how we react to all that happens to us. Henry Marsh, The Breakthrough Factor
Henry Marsh has a point. We can react to a degree in a manner of our own choosing, but the reality is that we are pre-programed to respond to certain things in certain ways. For example, most of us try to assume our responsibilities rather than shirk them. Most of us establish our routine around serving the needs of those we love instead of simply endeavoring to facilitate our own desires. We may plan and strive to achieve long-range goals, but we don't do it in the vacuum of our own wants. We include those we love in our projected endeavors.
The Bible affirms us in this for it says the person who neglects his own is “…worse than an infidel,” I Timothy 5:8. The Lord doesn't expect His followers to be selfish in their pursuit of happiness. He anticipates that we will pattern ourselves after His example of loving sacrifice. Of course that does not mean we are to neglect our heart-felt aspirations. No, it simply means we weigh them in the balance of His Word and His revealed truth. If what we are striving to achieve will bring ultimate glory to Jesus, the likelihood is that it will bring good to us--and to those we love.
If our goals serve merely our own worldly ends, they will not satisfy us in our attainment of them but will leave us still longing for the peace and joy, they promised but which no mere human endeavor can fully supply. As we are told in Proverbs 20:17, “Stolen bread tastes sweet, but it turns to gravel in the mouth.” Anything we have acquired through dubious means will leave us feeling empty and void of any real satisfaction.
Our lives, our work, our relationships, our goals, if they are to bring us fulfillment, must be placed on the altar before the Lord. We pray over them, we surrender them to Him, and we allow Him to facilitate them according to His perfect plan. Our ultimate choice, then, is not to simply the pick the course of action that would most successfully accomplish our self-realization but to choose that which would best serve the Lord's glory. When we have, as the Word says in John 12:32, allowed Him to be lifted up, He will then draw all men unto Himself. When those around us have been drawn to Jesus by our words and by our actions; when our goals serve His goal of revealing His love and His salvation to others, then we have chosen rightly in an eternal sense.
We can make our own choices. We get to choose how we react to all that happens to us. Henry Marsh, The Breakthrough Factor
Henry Marsh has a point. We can react to a degree in a manner of our own choosing, but the reality is that we are pre-programed to respond to certain things in certain ways. For example, most of us try to assume our responsibilities rather than shirk them. Most of us establish our routine around serving the needs of those we love instead of simply endeavoring to facilitate our own desires. We may plan and strive to achieve long-range goals, but we don't do it in the vacuum of our own wants. We include those we love in our projected endeavors.
The Bible affirms us in this for it says the person who neglects his own is “…worse than an infidel,” I Timothy 5:8. The Lord doesn't expect His followers to be selfish in their pursuit of happiness. He anticipates that we will pattern ourselves after His example of loving sacrifice. Of course that does not mean we are to neglect our heart-felt aspirations. No, it simply means we weigh them in the balance of His Word and His revealed truth. If what we are striving to achieve will bring ultimate glory to Jesus, the likelihood is that it will bring good to us--and to those we love.
If our goals serve merely our own worldly ends, they will not satisfy us in our attainment of them but will leave us still longing for the peace and joy, they promised but which no mere human endeavor can fully supply. As we are told in Proverbs 20:17, “Stolen bread tastes sweet, but it turns to gravel in the mouth.” Anything we have acquired through dubious means will leave us feeling empty and void of any real satisfaction.
Our lives, our work, our relationships, our goals, if they are to bring us fulfillment, must be placed on the altar before the Lord. We pray over them, we surrender them to Him, and we allow Him to facilitate them according to His perfect plan. Our ultimate choice, then, is not to simply the pick the course of action that would most successfully accomplish our self-realization but to choose that which would best serve the Lord's glory. When we have, as the Word says in John 12:32, allowed Him to be lifted up, He will then draw all men unto Himself. When those around us have been drawn to Jesus by our words and by our actions; when our goals serve His goal of revealing His love and His salvation to others, then we have chosen rightly in an eternal sense.
Friday, February 8, 2013
Bridges
The hardest thing to learn in life is which bridge to cross and which to burn. David Russell
If you are at an above-described juncture of your life, you must determine whether to continue on the bridge you're on or leave it behind to cross another. You know the circumstances you are experiencing are not rewarding or up-lifting, yet turning aside is a difficult choice.
Today, I will simply offer a prayer, for you need the guidance of the Lord much more than you need mere words from me:
Lord Jesus, I ask You to be with Your beloved child as he endeavors to determine the bridge he should take on this leg of the journey of his life. I ask You to enable him to look at the circumstances he faces from Your perspective so he will understand Your will regarding the next leg of his journey. I ask You to help him to feel Your assurance that You are with him and that You are guiding his choices and directing his steps.
Some of Your children have been crushed in spirit by the surroundings, by the people, among whom they live. I ask You to help them overcome the negativity that has been sown. I ask You to help people of faith to know in the depth of their spirit that they are precious to You (Isaiah 43:4) and that Your love more than overcomes any uncomplimentary feeling others may harbor against them. I ask You to help them know that in You they are new, fresh, clean, whole, and fully alive because the power that raised You from the grave dwells in them (Romans 8:11) and gives them new mercy each morning (Lamentations 3:22, 23).
I ask You to be with Your child in a profound and undeniable way, dear Jesus as he determines which bridges in his life to burn and which to cross. I ask You to bless him as he goes forth into the tasks, the trials, the joys of his future with Your peace that passes understanding (Philippians 4:7) and with Your strength that is perfected in human weakness (II Corinthians 12:9). I ask for these and all Your favors for Your child--for every believer in Christ—today and always, our Lord and our Hope. In Your mighty name I pray, Jesus. Amen.
If you are at an above-described juncture of your life, you must determine whether to continue on the bridge you're on or leave it behind to cross another. You know the circumstances you are experiencing are not rewarding or up-lifting, yet turning aside is a difficult choice.
Today, I will simply offer a prayer, for you need the guidance of the Lord much more than you need mere words from me:
Lord Jesus, I ask You to be with Your beloved child as he endeavors to determine the bridge he should take on this leg of the journey of his life. I ask You to enable him to look at the circumstances he faces from Your perspective so he will understand Your will regarding the next leg of his journey. I ask You to help him to feel Your assurance that You are with him and that You are guiding his choices and directing his steps.
Some of Your children have been crushed in spirit by the surroundings, by the people, among whom they live. I ask You to help them overcome the negativity that has been sown. I ask You to help people of faith to know in the depth of their spirit that they are precious to You (Isaiah 43:4) and that Your love more than overcomes any uncomplimentary feeling others may harbor against them. I ask You to help them know that in You they are new, fresh, clean, whole, and fully alive because the power that raised You from the grave dwells in them (Romans 8:11) and gives them new mercy each morning (Lamentations 3:22, 23).
I ask You to be with Your child in a profound and undeniable way, dear Jesus as he determines which bridges in his life to burn and which to cross. I ask You to bless him as he goes forth into the tasks, the trials, the joys of his future with Your peace that passes understanding (Philippians 4:7) and with Your strength that is perfected in human weakness (II Corinthians 12:9). I ask for these and all Your favors for Your child--for every believer in Christ—today and always, our Lord and our Hope. In Your mighty name I pray, Jesus. Amen.
Thursday, February 7, 2013
The Only Thing
February 7
When men are most sure and arrogant they are commonly most mistaken, giving views to passion without that proper deliberation which alone can secure them from the grossest absurdities. David Hume
And, my, don't we find that to be true! If we look at those around us with an objective eye, will we not see rich evidence of the veracity of this very thing! The individual who esteems himself highly cannot fathom that another is worthy of comparable recognition. The individual who is elated with his own accomplishments will not readily give place to the achievements of a competitor. And, it is true in the spiritual realm—although believers in Christ should harbor no such attitude for the essence of faith in Jesus is that we are all without merit of our own; we are all sinners saved by grace. (See Romans 3:22-24.)
But those who are arrogant in their conceit cannot allow that the Lord's unmerited favor drapes His robe of righteousness around the sins and foibles of another. Why would someone who professes to be a believer in the Savior be so without the commodity of grace? Can it be that he believes he has found in another the one 'unforgivable' sin? Can it be that in experiencing cleansing from his own sin, he stands so completely justified that he is blind to that same grace extended to someone else? Or is it that he has never truly bowed his knee or his heart to the One who alone can forgive sin?
If he is so removed from the essence of Christianity as to withhold forgiveness and grace from another, perhaps it is because he has never truly experienced them himself. Perhaps he abides in his sin and therefore requires others to bear their sin as well—for he thereby absolves himself in his own mind without allowing Jesus to wash him clean--he feels he cleanses himself by comparing himself to others who are equally stained. He tells himself that by comparison to them, his sins are trivial; and he thereby is self-delivered from guilt.
Were this rationale an accurate one, we could each absolve our sins before God simply by comparing ourselves to someone like Adolph Hitler or to a bloodthirsty terrorist who randomly kills the innocent for perceived political advantage. There is always someone to whom we may compare ourselves who will make us look innocent by the contrast. But they are not the ones to whom our Holy God compares us. It is to Jesus alone that we will be compared, for HE alone is without sin.
He is holy. We are sinful. He is perfect. We are flawed. He has the authority to judge men's hearts. We have no right to judge another for we cannot see hearts. No one, no man, can wield the scepter of Christ. No man can wear His crown. None of us can reign over another, for we are all under the same condemnation. The only thing that allows us to rule and reign with Him eternally (II Timothy 2:12) is that we are washed clean, that we are absolved of sin, that we are counted righteous, that we are precious in the beloved--and that comes only when we allow Jesus to wash us clean in His shed blood.
When men are most sure and arrogant they are commonly most mistaken, giving views to passion without that proper deliberation which alone can secure them from the grossest absurdities. David Hume
And, my, don't we find that to be true! If we look at those around us with an objective eye, will we not see rich evidence of the veracity of this very thing! The individual who esteems himself highly cannot fathom that another is worthy of comparable recognition. The individual who is elated with his own accomplishments will not readily give place to the achievements of a competitor. And, it is true in the spiritual realm—although believers in Christ should harbor no such attitude for the essence of faith in Jesus is that we are all without merit of our own; we are all sinners saved by grace. (See Romans 3:22-24.)
But those who are arrogant in their conceit cannot allow that the Lord's unmerited favor drapes His robe of righteousness around the sins and foibles of another. Why would someone who professes to be a believer in the Savior be so without the commodity of grace? Can it be that he believes he has found in another the one 'unforgivable' sin? Can it be that in experiencing cleansing from his own sin, he stands so completely justified that he is blind to that same grace extended to someone else? Or is it that he has never truly bowed his knee or his heart to the One who alone can forgive sin?
If he is so removed from the essence of Christianity as to withhold forgiveness and grace from another, perhaps it is because he has never truly experienced them himself. Perhaps he abides in his sin and therefore requires others to bear their sin as well—for he thereby absolves himself in his own mind without allowing Jesus to wash him clean--he feels he cleanses himself by comparing himself to others who are equally stained. He tells himself that by comparison to them, his sins are trivial; and he thereby is self-delivered from guilt.
Were this rationale an accurate one, we could each absolve our sins before God simply by comparing ourselves to someone like Adolph Hitler or to a bloodthirsty terrorist who randomly kills the innocent for perceived political advantage. There is always someone to whom we may compare ourselves who will make us look innocent by the contrast. But they are not the ones to whom our Holy God compares us. It is to Jesus alone that we will be compared, for HE alone is without sin.
He is holy. We are sinful. He is perfect. We are flawed. He has the authority to judge men's hearts. We have no right to judge another for we cannot see hearts. No one, no man, can wield the scepter of Christ. No man can wear His crown. None of us can reign over another, for we are all under the same condemnation. The only thing that allows us to rule and reign with Him eternally (II Timothy 2:12) is that we are washed clean, that we are absolved of sin, that we are counted righteous, that we are precious in the beloved--and that comes only when we allow Jesus to wash us clean in His shed blood.
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Reflecting His Radiance
February 6
Every day remind yourself of your own ability, of your good mind and affirm that you can make something really good out of your life. Norman Vincent Peale, The Tough-Minded Optimist
Perhaps even more important than Rev. Peale's advice to remind ourselves daily of our abilities, our good mind and the good we can make of our lives is the more realistic promises in the Word of God that His mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22, 23) and that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us (Philippians 4:13). Oh, our resolve is a wonderful asset in the ordinary days of life. When we're young, we can resolve to be good students and kind friends and obedient children, but it becomes a bit more of a challenge when we leave the friendly little world of diligence to our studies and obedience to our doting parents.
When we are required to face the less-than-friendly environment of the business world or the challenges of dealing with difficult people, our resources, our resolve, and our patience can be tried to the snapping point. When nothing we contrive within our futile imagination can bring our conflicts under control, we begin to lose our determination—and the reality of our limitations sets in. There is one distinct advantage to coming to the end of our 'self' in any situation, however. It may not initially appear to be an advantage, but ultimately it is.
For, when we have reached the end of our own ability, when there is no human help available, when there is an abysmal lack of natural resources, the only place we have to turn is to Jesus. Sometimes, His voice is clear and His answer is satisfying, but sometimes we are in the same situation that confronted Job. When trial after trial beset him, that man of faith endeavored to cling with steadfast resolve to the God he knew was true and worthy of all his trust. When his wife and his neighbors and his friends turned on him with a fury, wagging their fingers in his face and telling him his dilemma would be over if only he would—and each gave his counsel which ranged from confronting the fact that his honorable life had been a sham to cursing God to die! (See Job 8:6 and 2:9).
Job knew in his heart of hearts that he was trusting, he was believing, he was fixing his eyes on his only Source of help, but in doing all the right things, the right answers did not come. Job could not begin to fathom what was going on in the unseen realm. He could not begin to know that God was affirming His confidence in Job even as Job's confidence was being systematically torn down by his 'friends,' his self-appointed 'counselors'.
After much loss and much confusion, Job came to understand that God had not abandoned him--quite the contrary! God had been extolling him before His ancient foe! (See Job 1:8). We, too, need to be aware that there is an unseen realm where a battle is being waged for the souls of men, where our God and Savior is pulling for us--even when it seems we are abandoned. If we can trust the Lord at those difficult times, we will, like Job, "come forth as gold," Job 23:10. The refiner's fire is not pleasant. We don't seek it out. But when we emerge from it we will see the radiance of Jesus clearly reflected in us.
Every day remind yourself of your own ability, of your good mind and affirm that you can make something really good out of your life. Norman Vincent Peale, The Tough-Minded Optimist
Perhaps even more important than Rev. Peale's advice to remind ourselves daily of our abilities, our good mind and the good we can make of our lives is the more realistic promises in the Word of God that His mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22, 23) and that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us (Philippians 4:13). Oh, our resolve is a wonderful asset in the ordinary days of life. When we're young, we can resolve to be good students and kind friends and obedient children, but it becomes a bit more of a challenge when we leave the friendly little world of diligence to our studies and obedience to our doting parents.
When we are required to face the less-than-friendly environment of the business world or the challenges of dealing with difficult people, our resources, our resolve, and our patience can be tried to the snapping point. When nothing we contrive within our futile imagination can bring our conflicts under control, we begin to lose our determination—and the reality of our limitations sets in. There is one distinct advantage to coming to the end of our 'self' in any situation, however. It may not initially appear to be an advantage, but ultimately it is.
For, when we have reached the end of our own ability, when there is no human help available, when there is an abysmal lack of natural resources, the only place we have to turn is to Jesus. Sometimes, His voice is clear and His answer is satisfying, but sometimes we are in the same situation that confronted Job. When trial after trial beset him, that man of faith endeavored to cling with steadfast resolve to the God he knew was true and worthy of all his trust. When his wife and his neighbors and his friends turned on him with a fury, wagging their fingers in his face and telling him his dilemma would be over if only he would—and each gave his counsel which ranged from confronting the fact that his honorable life had been a sham to cursing God to die! (See Job 8:6 and 2:9).
Job knew in his heart of hearts that he was trusting, he was believing, he was fixing his eyes on his only Source of help, but in doing all the right things, the right answers did not come. Job could not begin to fathom what was going on in the unseen realm. He could not begin to know that God was affirming His confidence in Job even as Job's confidence was being systematically torn down by his 'friends,' his self-appointed 'counselors'.
After much loss and much confusion, Job came to understand that God had not abandoned him--quite the contrary! God had been extolling him before His ancient foe! (See Job 1:8). We, too, need to be aware that there is an unseen realm where a battle is being waged for the souls of men, where our God and Savior is pulling for us--even when it seems we are abandoned. If we can trust the Lord at those difficult times, we will, like Job, "come forth as gold," Job 23:10. The refiner's fire is not pleasant. We don't seek it out. But when we emerge from it we will see the radiance of Jesus clearly reflected in us.
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Transformed by Honor
February 5
No amount of ability is of the slightest avail without honor. Andrew Carnegie
No doubt Mr. Carnegie, the Scotsman who arrived penniless in America, built a fortune, then donated much of it to building a free library system, would be aghast at the transformation that has occurred in the country that gave him opportunity to succeed and that he loved. We have ceased being a land of opportunity and become a land of entitlement. A full 47 percent of Americans pay no taxes. Many welfare recipients make far more money by producing illegitimate children than working citizens do by their labor. And neither the country nor the people are improved for the convoluted transformation that has occurred here. Honor is tantamount to an unknown virtue. Men no longer count it as an aspect of their character that they value before the world.
We see it in personal dealings where blackmail and deception and manipulation are used to gain advantage. We see it in international dealings where threats of war and economic upheaval are used to gain advantage. We are a people void of honor and integrity because we are a people who have turned our backs on the One True and Living God. We have espoused a counterfeit religion that negates the essence of our Christ—forgiveness and love.
The Bible asks, "How can you love God who you have not seen if you do not love your fellow man who you have seen?” I John 4:20 We mistake our indulgence of the sins of sloth and moral depravity for love when we subsidize them with our tax dollars. Thereby we allow men to go their way without honor, without a call to repentance, without love—and we call ourselves Christian in the process.
WE HAVE PIERCED THE HEART OF OUR FAITH AS SURELY AS IF WE HAD THROWN THE ROMAN SPEAR THAT PIERCED THE SIDE OF JESUS AS HE HUNG ON THE CROSS!
We tell ourselves that we have obeyed the tenets of Christian doctrine but have negated it by white-washing the immutable law of God. We have deluded ourselves into thinking we are people of honor when honor is the furthest thing from our character. In its place we have cultivated the spirit of evil, which is the manipulation and duplicity of the enemy of God. We are of all people most deceived.
How do we overcome our dilemma? Apart from the love of Jesus, we cannot. We cannot forgive, we cannot love unless we surrender our hearts and spirits to Him. When we do, we will find the peace that has eluded us. We will appropriate the joy that He promises. Will others change when we change? That we cannot know. If they choose to remain in their stew of honor-less evil it will be their choice.
We can decide only for ourselves that we will not allow our inner being to be cluttered with the negativity of indulgence of dark practices that tear us down and destroy our hope. Instead, we will throw open the window of our souls and allow the light and love and forgiveness of Jesus to flood into us. We will let Him transform us—pray our transformation draws others to His unchanging and honorable truth.
No amount of ability is of the slightest avail without honor. Andrew Carnegie
No doubt Mr. Carnegie, the Scotsman who arrived penniless in America, built a fortune, then donated much of it to building a free library system, would be aghast at the transformation that has occurred in the country that gave him opportunity to succeed and that he loved. We have ceased being a land of opportunity and become a land of entitlement. A full 47 percent of Americans pay no taxes. Many welfare recipients make far more money by producing illegitimate children than working citizens do by their labor. And neither the country nor the people are improved for the convoluted transformation that has occurred here. Honor is tantamount to an unknown virtue. Men no longer count it as an aspect of their character that they value before the world.
We see it in personal dealings where blackmail and deception and manipulation are used to gain advantage. We see it in international dealings where threats of war and economic upheaval are used to gain advantage. We are a people void of honor and integrity because we are a people who have turned our backs on the One True and Living God. We have espoused a counterfeit religion that negates the essence of our Christ—forgiveness and love.
The Bible asks, "How can you love God who you have not seen if you do not love your fellow man who you have seen?” I John 4:20 We mistake our indulgence of the sins of sloth and moral depravity for love when we subsidize them with our tax dollars. Thereby we allow men to go their way without honor, without a call to repentance, without love—and we call ourselves Christian in the process.
WE HAVE PIERCED THE HEART OF OUR FAITH AS SURELY AS IF WE HAD THROWN THE ROMAN SPEAR THAT PIERCED THE SIDE OF JESUS AS HE HUNG ON THE CROSS!
We tell ourselves that we have obeyed the tenets of Christian doctrine but have negated it by white-washing the immutable law of God. We have deluded ourselves into thinking we are people of honor when honor is the furthest thing from our character. In its place we have cultivated the spirit of evil, which is the manipulation and duplicity of the enemy of God. We are of all people most deceived.
How do we overcome our dilemma? Apart from the love of Jesus, we cannot. We cannot forgive, we cannot love unless we surrender our hearts and spirits to Him. When we do, we will find the peace that has eluded us. We will appropriate the joy that He promises. Will others change when we change? That we cannot know. If they choose to remain in their stew of honor-less evil it will be their choice.
We can decide only for ourselves that we will not allow our inner being to be cluttered with the negativity of indulgence of dark practices that tear us down and destroy our hope. Instead, we will throw open the window of our souls and allow the light and love and forgiveness of Jesus to flood into us. We will let Him transform us—pray our transformation draws others to His unchanging and honorable truth.
Monday, February 4, 2013
Wooden's Counsel
"God is sheer mercy and grace; not easily angered, he's rich in love. ... He doesn't treat us as our sins deserve, nor pay us back for our wrongs." Psalm 103:8
February 4
John Wooden was the 'winningest' basketball coach in the history of the game at the college level. He was noted for his ability to hone the innate ability of young men and to transform their individual raw skill into the ability to be a cohesive, winning team. He believed in his players and he inspired them to believe in themselves. Wooden's counsel to his teams through the years and to us stands: "Don't allow what you cannot do to interfere with what you can do." In a way, that's what God says to us.
Each of us has our strengths and our weaknesses and He makes it His priority to mold and shape us into individuals who can--either on our own or working in concert with others--be champions at the game of life. He has given each of us a skill set that He empowers us to use to affect the goals and plans He has for each of us. His Word reminds us that we may falter at times, but we should not be deterred by our temporary set-backs--we can't let them interfere with our progress toward our goal of living a godly, blessed life.
Further, each believer has a standard of excellence that transcends the business or professional realm. He carries his qualifications into the sphere of the spirit and he uses them to improve not only every circumstance and every challenge he faces in his day-to-day endeavors, but also to introduce every person whose life touches his to the Christ in whom he trusts. The people he encounters professionally are advantaged by his integrity. Those in his circle of friends are benefited because of the counsel he affords to them in their time of need. His precious children are blessed for time and eternity because he is devoted to their nurture in the wisdom and admonition of the Lord according to Ephesians 6:4.
None of us is capable on our own to set the world on fire. We know we require HIS help and HIS guidance to bring us from the point where we are to the pinnacle of achievement that He has ordained us to reach. We must know our limitations; yet, we must know as well that those limitations cannot impede our progress toward the height of success that the Lord has for us. We cannot diminish the God-factor in our potential. We must know as Paul did that, "When I am weak, then I am strong, for the strength of Christ is perfected in weakness,” II Corinthians 12:10.
If a person never felt failure nipping at his heels, if he never anguished over the prospect of watching all his best effort come to nothing, he would have no reason to turn toward Jesus. The bottom line of life is that turning to Him is the only thing anyone ever does that impacts his life eternally. Our God is all about the eternal. As Philippians 2:5-12 tells us, "Let this mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God thought it not robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation and took on the form of a servant...wherefore, God has highly exalted Him and given Him a name that is above every name so at His name every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God...therefore, work out your salvation."
Jesus cares about nothing but the salvation of the souls of men. He turned His back on His deity in order to bring salvation to mankind. No matter what 'hand' a man has been dealt in life, no matter what limitations challenge him or what skill set he has that enables him to gain victory over the challenges of life, apart from the appropriation to himself of the gift of salvation, he is a pauper in the eternal scheme of things—a loser—and his Savior does not want him to be a beggar before Him. It is His desire that he use the faith, the hope, the truth, the light, the honor, the awards--every good thing that makes up his being--to grow in Christ and to shed the love of Jesus upon those around him. Just as the Lord used His holiness to make us holy, so He desire that we use the entirety of who we are to further His Kingdom's purposes. Nothing else in life matters nearly as much as this one thing.
February 4
John Wooden was the 'winningest' basketball coach in the history of the game at the college level. He was noted for his ability to hone the innate ability of young men and to transform their individual raw skill into the ability to be a cohesive, winning team. He believed in his players and he inspired them to believe in themselves. Wooden's counsel to his teams through the years and to us stands: "Don't allow what you cannot do to interfere with what you can do." In a way, that's what God says to us.
Each of us has our strengths and our weaknesses and He makes it His priority to mold and shape us into individuals who can--either on our own or working in concert with others--be champions at the game of life. He has given each of us a skill set that He empowers us to use to affect the goals and plans He has for each of us. His Word reminds us that we may falter at times, but we should not be deterred by our temporary set-backs--we can't let them interfere with our progress toward our goal of living a godly, blessed life.
Further, each believer has a standard of excellence that transcends the business or professional realm. He carries his qualifications into the sphere of the spirit and he uses them to improve not only every circumstance and every challenge he faces in his day-to-day endeavors, but also to introduce every person whose life touches his to the Christ in whom he trusts. The people he encounters professionally are advantaged by his integrity. Those in his circle of friends are benefited because of the counsel he affords to them in their time of need. His precious children are blessed for time and eternity because he is devoted to their nurture in the wisdom and admonition of the Lord according to Ephesians 6:4.
None of us is capable on our own to set the world on fire. We know we require HIS help and HIS guidance to bring us from the point where we are to the pinnacle of achievement that He has ordained us to reach. We must know our limitations; yet, we must know as well that those limitations cannot impede our progress toward the height of success that the Lord has for us. We cannot diminish the God-factor in our potential. We must know as Paul did that, "When I am weak, then I am strong, for the strength of Christ is perfected in weakness,” II Corinthians 12:10.
If a person never felt failure nipping at his heels, if he never anguished over the prospect of watching all his best effort come to nothing, he would have no reason to turn toward Jesus. The bottom line of life is that turning to Him is the only thing anyone ever does that impacts his life eternally. Our God is all about the eternal. As Philippians 2:5-12 tells us, "Let this mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God thought it not robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation and took on the form of a servant...wherefore, God has highly exalted Him and given Him a name that is above every name so at His name every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God...therefore, work out your salvation."
Jesus cares about nothing but the salvation of the souls of men. He turned His back on His deity in order to bring salvation to mankind. No matter what 'hand' a man has been dealt in life, no matter what limitations challenge him or what skill set he has that enables him to gain victory over the challenges of life, apart from the appropriation to himself of the gift of salvation, he is a pauper in the eternal scheme of things—a loser—and his Savior does not want him to be a beggar before Him. It is His desire that he use the faith, the hope, the truth, the light, the honor, the awards--every good thing that makes up his being--to grow in Christ and to shed the love of Jesus upon those around him. Just as the Lord used His holiness to make us holy, so He desire that we use the entirety of who we are to further His Kingdom's purposes. Nothing else in life matters nearly as much as this one thing.
Sunday, February 3, 2013
Ability Is Nothing...
February 3
Ability is nothing without opportunity. Napoleon Bonaparte
Napoleon Bonaparte had quite a grandiose opinion of himself. How else would a humble man born on the French-occupied Island of Corsica rise to be the emperor of France? His ultimate success may have had more to do with the political machinations of his father than of his own prowess, at least initially, but whatever it was, he recognized that he got to the pinnacle of power in post-revolutionary France because of the opportunities afforded to him.
As believers in Christ, we, too, must recognize that all we are and all we achieve are due to the Lord and the opportunities He affords to us. He tells us frankly, "Without Me, you can do nothing," John 15:5. In another place in scripture we are told, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me," Philippians 4:13. As Napoleon observed, "Ability is nothing without opportunity," and his words, though perhaps unintentionally, are rooted in the Word of God.
If we base our outlook on life and our success in attaining our life's goals upon the necessity of our abilities being afforded opportunity, are we scripturally justified if we fall short of our desired achievements? Can we lay our ultimate success or failure to reach the pinnacle of our profession or to become the person in the inner sanctum of our being that the Lord desires us to be at His own doorstep?
In a sense we can, but only if we acquiesce to the reality that He indeed does provide opportunity for our ability. It may not come in the way we anticipate it, for He is the Master of orchestrating the surprise. He is not bound by conventional routes to success. Neither our professional attainments nor our personal satisfaction must necessarily come through the ordinary routes recognized by people who do things independently of Him.
But for those who trust Him, His Word is true. His promise is fulfilled when the prophet tells us "…His mercies are new every morning," Lamentations 3:22-23. That one verse tells us that each day placed in His hand is a new opportunity to do and to be all He has ordained. Will it be today? Perhaps. But if it is not, we will continue to trust Him that on His designated tomorrow, we will reap the reward of being a people who hold on to faith which is "the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen," Hebrews 11:1.
Ability is nothing without opportunity. Napoleon Bonaparte
Napoleon Bonaparte had quite a grandiose opinion of himself. How else would a humble man born on the French-occupied Island of Corsica rise to be the emperor of France? His ultimate success may have had more to do with the political machinations of his father than of his own prowess, at least initially, but whatever it was, he recognized that he got to the pinnacle of power in post-revolutionary France because of the opportunities afforded to him.
As believers in Christ, we, too, must recognize that all we are and all we achieve are due to the Lord and the opportunities He affords to us. He tells us frankly, "Without Me, you can do nothing," John 15:5. In another place in scripture we are told, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me," Philippians 4:13. As Napoleon observed, "Ability is nothing without opportunity," and his words, though perhaps unintentionally, are rooted in the Word of God.
If we base our outlook on life and our success in attaining our life's goals upon the necessity of our abilities being afforded opportunity, are we scripturally justified if we fall short of our desired achievements? Can we lay our ultimate success or failure to reach the pinnacle of our profession or to become the person in the inner sanctum of our being that the Lord desires us to be at His own doorstep?
In a sense we can, but only if we acquiesce to the reality that He indeed does provide opportunity for our ability. It may not come in the way we anticipate it, for He is the Master of orchestrating the surprise. He is not bound by conventional routes to success. Neither our professional attainments nor our personal satisfaction must necessarily come through the ordinary routes recognized by people who do things independently of Him.
But for those who trust Him, His Word is true. His promise is fulfilled when the prophet tells us "…His mercies are new every morning," Lamentations 3:22-23. That one verse tells us that each day placed in His hand is a new opportunity to do and to be all He has ordained. Will it be today? Perhaps. But if it is not, we will continue to trust Him that on His designated tomorrow, we will reap the reward of being a people who hold on to faith which is "the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen," Hebrews 11:1.
Saturday, February 2, 2013
Addendum IN CHRIST ALONE
Because none of us can face life, let alone life’s problems, by ourselves, this wonderful song touches each of us where we are. I pray the lyrics bless you and that the Lord uses the strength and power of the faith expressed here to anchor you to Christ alone.
IN CHRIST ALONE
By Keith Getty (Northern Ireland) and Stuart Townend (England)
In Christ alone my hope is found,
He is my light, my strength, my song;
this Cornerstone, this solid Ground,
firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
when fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My Comforter, my All in All,
here in the love of Christ I stand.
In Christ alone! who took on flesh
Fulness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones he came to save:
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied -
For every sin on Him was laid;
Here in the death of Christ I live.
There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain:
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave he rose again!
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His and He is mine -
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.
No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me;
From life's first cry to final breath.
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand.
IN CHRIST ALONE
By Keith Getty (Northern Ireland) and Stuart Townend (England)
In Christ alone my hope is found,
He is my light, my strength, my song;
this Cornerstone, this solid Ground,
firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
when fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My Comforter, my All in All,
here in the love of Christ I stand.
In Christ alone! who took on flesh
Fulness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones he came to save:
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied -
For every sin on Him was laid;
Here in the death of Christ I live.
There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain:
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave he rose again!
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His and He is mine -
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.
No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me;
From life's first cry to final breath.
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand.
Listen...
February 2
There's a passage in the Bible--I Kings 19:11, 12 that says,"...the Lord passed by and a great, strong wind tore the mountain and broke the rocks in pieces; but the Lord was not in the wind, and the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake, there was a fire but the Lord was not in the fire. After the fire was a still, small voice."
Perhaps you won't want to hear it, but some of you are raging in an inner as well as in an external conflict right now that approximates the magnitude of a whirlwind force and earthquake proportions that exceed the Richter Scale. The fire of anger and frustration and despair burn within you...
You won't be able to hear the still, small voice of God in the cacophony of your own weeping and anger, even though He is speaking to you. It may not be the way you would prefer to hear Him, but He speaks to you every day in a still, small voice, that although it is not audible, it can comfort your spirit if you will allow it to do so.
One who is truly sensible and prudent will grant the Lord the latitude to speak through whatever or whomever He chooses. Jesus can be found throughout the Scripture for His perfect will is expounded there. He can be found in the writing of godly men of the past. He can sometimes be ascertained in the scribbling of well-intentioned bloggers.
But if you will quiet your spirit, you will certainly hear Him, for He loves you, He dwells within you, He is speaking words of power and truth and hope into you. Just listen...
There's a passage in the Bible--I Kings 19:11, 12 that says,"...the Lord passed by and a great, strong wind tore the mountain and broke the rocks in pieces; but the Lord was not in the wind, and the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake, there was a fire but the Lord was not in the fire. After the fire was a still, small voice."
Perhaps you won't want to hear it, but some of you are raging in an inner as well as in an external conflict right now that approximates the magnitude of a whirlwind force and earthquake proportions that exceed the Richter Scale. The fire of anger and frustration and despair burn within you...
You won't be able to hear the still, small voice of God in the cacophony of your own weeping and anger, even though He is speaking to you. It may not be the way you would prefer to hear Him, but He speaks to you every day in a still, small voice, that although it is not audible, it can comfort your spirit if you will allow it to do so.
One who is truly sensible and prudent will grant the Lord the latitude to speak through whatever or whomever He chooses. Jesus can be found throughout the Scripture for His perfect will is expounded there. He can be found in the writing of godly men of the past. He can sometimes be ascertained in the scribbling of well-intentioned bloggers.
But if you will quiet your spirit, you will certainly hear Him, for He loves you, He dwells within you, He is speaking words of power and truth and hope into you. Just listen...
Friday, February 1, 2013
Peace
February 1
Peace is not the absence of conflict, it is the ability to handle conflict by peaceful means. Ronald Reagan
My Grandfather had another view of peace. He didn't have quite as optimistic view of man's ability to handle his differences amicably. Grandpa said, "Two rats can't live in the same hole."
Each of us comes to a point in our lives, sooner or later, when we have to decide which philosophy we will espouse, that of President Reagan or that of my Grandfather. Will we govern ourselves in such a way as to disagree agreeably or will we fight tooth and nail to have our way? Will we be able to reconcile our differences sufficiently to co-habit the planet with those whose values and goals are far different than our own or will there be war? Will we be able to employ tact and grace to our personal differences and enjoy relative harmony with those who have pit themselves against us, or must we retaliate and thereby succumb to conflict?
Because worldviews are not always ideologically compatible, the best efforts of men of peace have almost universally come ultimately to war. The conflicts between individuals can come to a better resolution--but only if the Prince of Peace is a component of their uneasy truce. Jesus can make a way where there is no way because Jesus can cause even a believer's enemies to "dwell in peace with him," Proverbs 16:7. With Jesus in our heart, we can shed the light of His love and truth and forgiveness and power into the day-to-day circumstances we face. We can be as 'oil' that smooths over the rough places rather than like 'sand' which causes friction.
So to answer the question of whose approach, whose philosophy do we espouse--that of Grandpa or that of President Reagan--we must factor in the degree to which the parties involved have yielded themselves to Jesus. If they reserve the inner-most essence of their self-hood to their own control, their own emotions, their own methods, they will invariably come to conflict just as Grandpa said. If they surrender the inner-most essence of their self-hood to Jesus' control, to His will, to His way, they will come to the peace of Jesus that "passes all understanding!" and it will “keep their hearts and their minds in Him,” as Philippians 4:7 says it will.
They will be oil, not sand; they will be the blessed "peacemakers" who shall be called the sons of God (Matthew 5:8) and who shall see God move in their circumstances to bring down the work of the enemy which is bitterness and unforgiveness and self-righteousness and legalism and conflict. We shall instead see the fruits of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22) which reflect the presence and power of God.
Peace is not the absence of conflict, it is the ability to handle conflict by peaceful means. Ronald Reagan
My Grandfather had another view of peace. He didn't have quite as optimistic view of man's ability to handle his differences amicably. Grandpa said, "Two rats can't live in the same hole."
Each of us comes to a point in our lives, sooner or later, when we have to decide which philosophy we will espouse, that of President Reagan or that of my Grandfather. Will we govern ourselves in such a way as to disagree agreeably or will we fight tooth and nail to have our way? Will we be able to reconcile our differences sufficiently to co-habit the planet with those whose values and goals are far different than our own or will there be war? Will we be able to employ tact and grace to our personal differences and enjoy relative harmony with those who have pit themselves against us, or must we retaliate and thereby succumb to conflict?
Because worldviews are not always ideologically compatible, the best efforts of men of peace have almost universally come ultimately to war. The conflicts between individuals can come to a better resolution--but only if the Prince of Peace is a component of their uneasy truce. Jesus can make a way where there is no way because Jesus can cause even a believer's enemies to "dwell in peace with him," Proverbs 16:7. With Jesus in our heart, we can shed the light of His love and truth and forgiveness and power into the day-to-day circumstances we face. We can be as 'oil' that smooths over the rough places rather than like 'sand' which causes friction.
So to answer the question of whose approach, whose philosophy do we espouse--that of Grandpa or that of President Reagan--we must factor in the degree to which the parties involved have yielded themselves to Jesus. If they reserve the inner-most essence of their self-hood to their own control, their own emotions, their own methods, they will invariably come to conflict just as Grandpa said. If they surrender the inner-most essence of their self-hood to Jesus' control, to His will, to His way, they will come to the peace of Jesus that "passes all understanding!" and it will “keep their hearts and their minds in Him,” as Philippians 4:7 says it will.
They will be oil, not sand; they will be the blessed "peacemakers" who shall be called the sons of God (Matthew 5:8) and who shall see God move in their circumstances to bring down the work of the enemy which is bitterness and unforgiveness and self-righteousness and legalism and conflict. We shall instead see the fruits of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22) which reflect the presence and power of God.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)