Hi, Guys! Because there's supposed to be a virulent computer virus unleashed tomorrow, I thought I'd try to keep the computer off tomorrow to give the matter a chance to be resolved and, hopefully, keep my computer uninfected. Therefore, I'm sending tomorrow's devotional excerpt today. God bless you all.
In Jesus' love,
Sandra
April 1
There’s an old saying—“What you see is what you get”—but it bears no resemblance to spiritual truth. In fact, in Ecclesiastes 8:12, the Word tells us something entirely different. “Though a sinner’s days are prolonged and his ways seem to prosper, surely it will be well with those who worship the Lord.”
How true an observation that is! So often it appears that the wicked prosper. Everything they touch seems to turn to gold, while the righteous struggle to eek out an existence in a hostile environment. Sometimes, the child of God is tempted to question Him about the facts they see before their eyes.
It’s true enough. These are facts, but only within the world’s system of reality. What is real and true in a temporal sense is not necessarily real and true in an eternal sense when it comes to placing value on a commodity. The Lord does not hold in high esteem the things the world counts dear.
But what is true is that the treasures that are of inestimable value for eternity are the things the Lord promises to those who worship Him. The fleeting things of earth will fade as quickly as will those who pursued them, but the wondrous riches of eternity are accruing interest to the godly all through his life and beyond.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
March 31
Know God, abide in Him—these simple words indicate the heart’s cry of most sincere followers of Christ. We yearn to be people after God’s own heart, to be not only the people of the Book but the people who are immersed in the Book. We want to be His true children who are reflections of His light and love.
We understand that in Him, in His Word are the true treasures of not only time but of eternity. In Romans 11:33, Paul states this truth very clearly, “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unfathomable are His judgments! His ways are past finding out.”
The great apostle, the one from whose pen so much of the New Testament flows, recognized the enormity of the treasure we have in Christ Jesus our Lord. Paul knew the depth of understanding was beyond our own insight. Paul knew we could never truly know God except through His revelation of Himself.
Jesus knew this also, so we were given the Holy Spirit to teach us from His inexhaustible fountain of knowledge. Because we have the Holy Spirit of Christ the Lord indwelling us, we may not only search for but we may understand the fullness of God! Through His tutelage, we know His ways by His own instruction!
Know God, abide in Him—these simple words indicate the heart’s cry of most sincere followers of Christ. We yearn to be people after God’s own heart, to be not only the people of the Book but the people who are immersed in the Book. We want to be His true children who are reflections of His light and love.
We understand that in Him, in His Word are the true treasures of not only time but of eternity. In Romans 11:33, Paul states this truth very clearly, “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unfathomable are His judgments! His ways are past finding out.”
The great apostle, the one from whose pen so much of the New Testament flows, recognized the enormity of the treasure we have in Christ Jesus our Lord. Paul knew the depth of understanding was beyond our own insight. Paul knew we could never truly know God except through His revelation of Himself.
Jesus knew this also, so we were given the Holy Spirit to teach us from His inexhaustible fountain of knowledge. Because we have the Holy Spirit of Christ the Lord indwelling us, we may not only search for but we may understand the fullness of God! Through His tutelage, we know His ways by His own instruction!
Monday, March 30, 2009
March 30
Among the most comforting words of scripture are those found in Psalm 23:5,6 where it says, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies, You anoint my head with oil, my cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
The idea of having the protection that allows one to sit at the table of complete provision even in enemy territory is an astounding promise! In the old days, ones head was anointed with oil if he were an honored guest and the Lord sets His table before His children in the midst of their trouble with such leisurely ease that He is able to take time to politely anoint their heads before they dine with Him!
Not only are the common courtesies of the day extended, but the full meal is set forth! To have an over-brimming cup states clearly that there is no haste in the preparing of or in the partaking of this sumptuous meal. That the cup runs over suggests that the entire meal is lavish!
From this amazing word picture of comfort in the midst of battle, we see His ability to extend His goodness and mercy far beyond the immediate time of trouble into the future where “goodness and mercy shall follow all the days of my life”! And even more beautiful than a lifetime of His blessing and provision is the promise that He also assures our eternal abode in the corridors of Heaven!
Among the most comforting words of scripture are those found in Psalm 23:5,6 where it says, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies, You anoint my head with oil, my cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
The idea of having the protection that allows one to sit at the table of complete provision even in enemy territory is an astounding promise! In the old days, ones head was anointed with oil if he were an honored guest and the Lord sets His table before His children in the midst of their trouble with such leisurely ease that He is able to take time to politely anoint their heads before they dine with Him!
Not only are the common courtesies of the day extended, but the full meal is set forth! To have an over-brimming cup states clearly that there is no haste in the preparing of or in the partaking of this sumptuous meal. That the cup runs over suggests that the entire meal is lavish!
From this amazing word picture of comfort in the midst of battle, we see His ability to extend His goodness and mercy far beyond the immediate time of trouble into the future where “goodness and mercy shall follow all the days of my life”! And even more beautiful than a lifetime of His blessing and provision is the promise that He also assures our eternal abode in the corridors of Heaven!
Sunday, March 29, 2009
March 29
God wants us to think as He thinks, act as He acts because we love as He loves. He wants us to have a “heart connection” to Jesus. Indeed, when we turn our lives over to the Lord, we say that we have given our heart to Him. The heart is the seat of dominion from which Christ Jesus is allowed to reign in our lives.
When He has been enthroned there, He expects certain changes to be made in our attitudes and in our actions. We will step away from the mirror of life that contemplates only our appearance in the eyes of men and in our own eyes. We will no longer seek to look good to the world; we will want to be good in the eyes of the Lord.
When we have assumed the attitude that sets our feet on the path of loving and serving Him as we proceed through this Vale of Tears toward our home in Glory, we will discover tasks to be done in the behalf of His Kingdom. Most of those jobs He designates to us along our way will involve our interaction with other people. The Lord will want us to reach out to the lost and guide them to His salvation. He will want us to speak words of truth to the deceived, words of comfort to the down-trodden. He also wants us to strengthen those believers who are weak in faith.
Jesus extends a special blessing to the one who reaches out to encourage those who are overwhelmed with the cares of life to the point of faltering in their faith. In Psalm 41:1 we are assured, “Blessed is the man who considers the weak and the poor; the Lord will deliver him in the time of trouble.” When our heart reflects God’s hope and power to the weak and poor in spirit, to the downcast among us in the community of faith, it is then that we are extending His love to them most completely. It is then that His promise of blessing from Him at our own time of need is assured.
God wants us to think as He thinks, act as He acts because we love as He loves. He wants us to have a “heart connection” to Jesus. Indeed, when we turn our lives over to the Lord, we say that we have given our heart to Him. The heart is the seat of dominion from which Christ Jesus is allowed to reign in our lives.
When He has been enthroned there, He expects certain changes to be made in our attitudes and in our actions. We will step away from the mirror of life that contemplates only our appearance in the eyes of men and in our own eyes. We will no longer seek to look good to the world; we will want to be good in the eyes of the Lord.
When we have assumed the attitude that sets our feet on the path of loving and serving Him as we proceed through this Vale of Tears toward our home in Glory, we will discover tasks to be done in the behalf of His Kingdom. Most of those jobs He designates to us along our way will involve our interaction with other people. The Lord will want us to reach out to the lost and guide them to His salvation. He will want us to speak words of truth to the deceived, words of comfort to the down-trodden. He also wants us to strengthen those believers who are weak in faith.
Jesus extends a special blessing to the one who reaches out to encourage those who are overwhelmed with the cares of life to the point of faltering in their faith. In Psalm 41:1 we are assured, “Blessed is the man who considers the weak and the poor; the Lord will deliver him in the time of trouble.” When our heart reflects God’s hope and power to the weak and poor in spirit, to the downcast among us in the community of faith, it is then that we are extending His love to them most completely. It is then that His promise of blessing from Him at our own time of need is assured.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
March 28
What the Word says in II Chronicles 26:5 of Uzziah, the sixteen year old boy who became King of Judah is true for believers of our day, too. It is most probable that when his father died and Uzziah became king, he was intimidated by the formidable task that was placed before him. He knew he needed help.
Who better to turn to at a time of need than to the God who holds the universe in the hollow of His mighty hand! Though he was young and inexperienced, Uzziah knew that his God was faithful and worthy of all his confidence, so he placed his kingdom into the hand of God.
The Word tells us that “He set himself to seek God…and as long as he sought God, God made him to prosper.” The Holy One of Israel caused Uzziah to triumph over his enemies in war and expanded the resources of his kingdom. He encouraged invention and commerce and the Lord was faithful to His promises to Uzziah. But, when Uzziah became strong, when he relied upon himself instead of upon the God who was his Help and Strength, he presumed to usurp authority that was not rightfully his.
Instead of being just the king, he assumed the prerogative of the priests, which was a great offense in the sight of God. As close as he had been to the Lord, he fell that far away. We must be on guard against the presumption of Uzziah. We must not allow ourselves to succumb to the subtle seduction of the enemy of our souls who will try to convince us that our own abilities have ushered us to success. We must endeavor to stay close to the Lord, to maintain our reliance upon Jesus, so we do not fall from the grace He has given to us.
What the Word says in II Chronicles 26:5 of Uzziah, the sixteen year old boy who became King of Judah is true for believers of our day, too. It is most probable that when his father died and Uzziah became king, he was intimidated by the formidable task that was placed before him. He knew he needed help.
Who better to turn to at a time of need than to the God who holds the universe in the hollow of His mighty hand! Though he was young and inexperienced, Uzziah knew that his God was faithful and worthy of all his confidence, so he placed his kingdom into the hand of God.
The Word tells us that “He set himself to seek God…and as long as he sought God, God made him to prosper.” The Holy One of Israel caused Uzziah to triumph over his enemies in war and expanded the resources of his kingdom. He encouraged invention and commerce and the Lord was faithful to His promises to Uzziah. But, when Uzziah became strong, when he relied upon himself instead of upon the God who was his Help and Strength, he presumed to usurp authority that was not rightfully his.
Instead of being just the king, he assumed the prerogative of the priests, which was a great offense in the sight of God. As close as he had been to the Lord, he fell that far away. We must be on guard against the presumption of Uzziah. We must not allow ourselves to succumb to the subtle seduction of the enemy of our souls who will try to convince us that our own abilities have ushered us to success. We must endeavor to stay close to the Lord, to maintain our reliance upon Jesus, so we do not fall from the grace He has given to us.
Friday, March 27, 2009
March 27
Philippians 4:6,7 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God, and the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your heart and your mind in Christ Jesus.”
If we stand on this passage alone, we shall be unshaken in the midst of our trials. The Lord does not caution us that there are some circumstances under which we must fear. He doesn’t alert us that there are some aspects of life’s journey that are too difficult for Him to remedy. He does not say that fear and anxiety might be necessary under certain conditions.
He is, instead, quite emphatic—there is no situation we might encounter that should plunge us into distress! In fact, quite the opposite is true! The Word reminds us that the solution to any problem we face begins at the point of absolute trust in the faithfulness and the integrity and the power of the God we serve!
In recognizing these attributes of our Savior and our God, we are enabled to take the step that sets us on our way to the fulfillment of the desires of our hearts that we lay confidently at His feet in prayer—we thank Him! Before the answer comes, we express our trust in Him by thanking Him. When we have prayed with "thanksgiving power," our hearts and minds shall be kept in the confident assurance of His full supply.
Philippians 4:6,7 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God, and the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your heart and your mind in Christ Jesus.”
If we stand on this passage alone, we shall be unshaken in the midst of our trials. The Lord does not caution us that there are some circumstances under which we must fear. He doesn’t alert us that there are some aspects of life’s journey that are too difficult for Him to remedy. He does not say that fear and anxiety might be necessary under certain conditions.
He is, instead, quite emphatic—there is no situation we might encounter that should plunge us into distress! In fact, quite the opposite is true! The Word reminds us that the solution to any problem we face begins at the point of absolute trust in the faithfulness and the integrity and the power of the God we serve!
In recognizing these attributes of our Savior and our God, we are enabled to take the step that sets us on our way to the fulfillment of the desires of our hearts that we lay confidently at His feet in prayer—we thank Him! Before the answer comes, we express our trust in Him by thanking Him. When we have prayed with "thanksgiving power," our hearts and minds shall be kept in the confident assurance of His full supply.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
March 26
Ephesians 6: 19, 20 is a declaration on the part of Paul the Apostle that many would find difficult to make in his situation. Paul was in chains in a Roman dungeon when much of the scripture which is attributed to him was penned. To say that he was on fire for the Lord while under fire from the enemy would indeed be an understatement.
But Paul took no account of his confining circumstances when it came to assuming his responsibility to “peach the gospel to every creature” as the Lord admonished His followers to do. Here Paul declares his full intent to comply with the instruction the Lord left for all those who profess faith in His name.
In this passage, he says, “Pray for me, that I may open my mouth and boldly proclaim the gospel for which I am an ambassador in chains—that I may declare it boldly and courageously, as I ought to do.” Paul is not excusing himself from being a witness for the Lord because those around him—the Romans guarding him—are enemies of the gospel. He is not excusing himself because proclaiming Christ is a threat to his already tenuous well-being!
No! Paul is taking the opportunity afforded him by having a captive audience while he is captive! To anyone within ear shot, Paul proclaims the truth of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior! If the great apostle seeks prayer that he may boldly declare the gospel of Christ, how much more should we pray for this same empowerment! We, too, no matter what “chains” may bind us, must allow ourselves to seek opportunities to declare Christ to those around us.
Ephesians 6: 19, 20 is a declaration on the part of Paul the Apostle that many would find difficult to make in his situation. Paul was in chains in a Roman dungeon when much of the scripture which is attributed to him was penned. To say that he was on fire for the Lord while under fire from the enemy would indeed be an understatement.
But Paul took no account of his confining circumstances when it came to assuming his responsibility to “peach the gospel to every creature” as the Lord admonished His followers to do. Here Paul declares his full intent to comply with the instruction the Lord left for all those who profess faith in His name.
In this passage, he says, “Pray for me, that I may open my mouth and boldly proclaim the gospel for which I am an ambassador in chains—that I may declare it boldly and courageously, as I ought to do.” Paul is not excusing himself from being a witness for the Lord because those around him—the Romans guarding him—are enemies of the gospel. He is not excusing himself because proclaiming Christ is a threat to his already tenuous well-being!
No! Paul is taking the opportunity afforded him by having a captive audience while he is captive! To anyone within ear shot, Paul proclaims the truth of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior! If the great apostle seeks prayer that he may boldly declare the gospel of Christ, how much more should we pray for this same empowerment! We, too, no matter what “chains” may bind us, must allow ourselves to seek opportunities to declare Christ to those around us.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
March 25
What is the single thing the Lord is most desirous of receiving from people who profess to love Him? Yes, He wants us to trust Him. Yes, He wants us to focus our lives around His truth. Yes, He longs for us to share our faith in Him with others so they, too, may come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
But what is the single most point of surrender that those who are born again, blood-bathed saints can offer up to the God and Savior who set them free from the ravages of sin by His unspeakable gift? What is the offering of incalculable value that we can lay at His feet?
According to His own Word, stated in Hebrews 13:15, that one thing is praise. It says, “Let us continually offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of our lips, glorifying His name.” Is our God so egocentric that He must have adulation heaped upon Him at all times? If that’s what we think, we have missed the point.
The God who sacrificed His only Son so we might be delivered from the ravages of sin is certainly not desirous of having our praise in order to aggrandize Himself—He is already lifted up! When we praise Him, we place ourselves in the position of abiding most closely with Him. In His presence is the fullness of all we need, and our praise frees His mighty hand to lavish us with His blessings!
What is the single thing the Lord is most desirous of receiving from people who profess to love Him? Yes, He wants us to trust Him. Yes, He wants us to focus our lives around His truth. Yes, He longs for us to share our faith in Him with others so they, too, may come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
But what is the single most point of surrender that those who are born again, blood-bathed saints can offer up to the God and Savior who set them free from the ravages of sin by His unspeakable gift? What is the offering of incalculable value that we can lay at His feet?
According to His own Word, stated in Hebrews 13:15, that one thing is praise. It says, “Let us continually offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of our lips, glorifying His name.” Is our God so egocentric that He must have adulation heaped upon Him at all times? If that’s what we think, we have missed the point.
The God who sacrificed His only Son so we might be delivered from the ravages of sin is certainly not desirous of having our praise in order to aggrandize Himself—He is already lifted up! When we praise Him, we place ourselves in the position of abiding most closely with Him. In His presence is the fullness of all we need, and our praise frees His mighty hand to lavish us with His blessings!
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
March 24
God doesn’t want us to have a mere nodding acquaintance with Him. He wants us to know Him intimately, in the fullness of who He is, in the fullness of His love for us, in the fullness of His power. One of the things Jesus spoke to His disciples was that they were to have the power that He had—in great, full measure. (John 14:12)
Paul reiterates this thought in Philippians 3:10 where he says it is his desire to “know Christ more and more, in a deeper, clearer way that I may also know the fullness of His resurrection power as it is promised to believers.” Paul knew his knowledge of Jesus was not to be merely cerebral. Paul was to know Jesus experientially as he only could as the Lord’s resurrection power flowed through him!
We are to know Jesus experientially, as His resurrection power flows through us! We are to speak the word and see blind eyes opened, deaf ears unstopped! We are to see demons flee when we cast them out in Jesus’ name! We are to see souls saved as we share with them the wonderful news of Jesus’ unspeakable Gift to them!
And as we gain this intimate fellowship with our Lord and Savior, as we see Him working in us the amazing things He has called us to do in the behalf of His Kingdom, our joy in Him will be full! His delight in us will be complete! And we shall see the implementation of the admonition that we are to, “Rejoice in the Lord always!” (Philippians 4:4)
God doesn’t want us to have a mere nodding acquaintance with Him. He wants us to know Him intimately, in the fullness of who He is, in the fullness of His love for us, in the fullness of His power. One of the things Jesus spoke to His disciples was that they were to have the power that He had—in great, full measure. (John 14:12)
Paul reiterates this thought in Philippians 3:10 where he says it is his desire to “know Christ more and more, in a deeper, clearer way that I may also know the fullness of His resurrection power as it is promised to believers.” Paul knew his knowledge of Jesus was not to be merely cerebral. Paul was to know Jesus experientially as he only could as the Lord’s resurrection power flowed through him!
We are to know Jesus experientially, as His resurrection power flows through us! We are to speak the word and see blind eyes opened, deaf ears unstopped! We are to see demons flee when we cast them out in Jesus’ name! We are to see souls saved as we share with them the wonderful news of Jesus’ unspeakable Gift to them!
And as we gain this intimate fellowship with our Lord and Savior, as we see Him working in us the amazing things He has called us to do in the behalf of His Kingdom, our joy in Him will be full! His delight in us will be complete! And we shall see the implementation of the admonition that we are to, “Rejoice in the Lord always!” (Philippians 4:4)
Monday, March 23, 2009
March 23
Not many of us evidence much restraint when we’re cheering for our favorite team at a sports event. Even those of us who are noted for our prim demeanor have been noted to exhibit exuberance when our home team is competing for a championship—or even just another score. Sometimes the same immersion, the same passion is lacking when we are praising God.
That’s not the way HE wants us to approach Him, however. He doesn’t want us to hold back. He wants us to come confidently before Him, assured that He hears our heart and fully intends to meet our deepest longing. More than that, He wants us to enter His presence with praise for Him. Not because He’s vain and He needs to hear it, but because He’s worthy and we need to recognize it.
Psalm 40:9 states it this way, “I proclaim the glad tidings of Your righteousness in the great assembly. Behold, I have not restrained my lips, as You know, O Lord.” The psalmist has not gone to the service preoccupied with the cares of life. The poet of the Lord has not entered the Temple with his own agenda! He has entered the Lord’s courts with praise on His lips!
He doesn’t merely bow his head and solemnly thank the God of the entire universe for His awesome majesty and His unfailing care! No, the psalmist proclaims the righteousness of God openly before the whole assembly with unrestrained lips! In fact, he is so exuberant that we might get the mistaken notion that he were at a championship sports event! May we emulate him in our praise!
Not many of us evidence much restraint when we’re cheering for our favorite team at a sports event. Even those of us who are noted for our prim demeanor have been noted to exhibit exuberance when our home team is competing for a championship—or even just another score. Sometimes the same immersion, the same passion is lacking when we are praising God.
That’s not the way HE wants us to approach Him, however. He doesn’t want us to hold back. He wants us to come confidently before Him, assured that He hears our heart and fully intends to meet our deepest longing. More than that, He wants us to enter His presence with praise for Him. Not because He’s vain and He needs to hear it, but because He’s worthy and we need to recognize it.
Psalm 40:9 states it this way, “I proclaim the glad tidings of Your righteousness in the great assembly. Behold, I have not restrained my lips, as You know, O Lord.” The psalmist has not gone to the service preoccupied with the cares of life. The poet of the Lord has not entered the Temple with his own agenda! He has entered the Lord’s courts with praise on His lips!
He doesn’t merely bow his head and solemnly thank the God of the entire universe for His awesome majesty and His unfailing care! No, the psalmist proclaims the righteousness of God openly before the whole assembly with unrestrained lips! In fact, he is so exuberant that we might get the mistaken notion that he were at a championship sports event! May we emulate him in our praise!
Sunday, March 22, 2009
March 22
In Psalm 50:23, the Lord says something beautiful in all its aspects, “He who brings an offering of praise and thanksgiving honors Me; and he who orders his life aright, to him will I demonstrate the salvation of God.” Think about those words for a minute, no, ponder them a lifetime, for they are indeed words of life.
What is an offering? In a nutshell, it is something given. God who owns everything wants something from us! That is a remarkable concept! There is nothing that exists that is not His and He dispenses it as He will, but one thing He cannot have unless we give it to Him is our praise and thanks.
If we credit ourselves with what we have, with what we achieve; if we think we are saved because we are worthy by virtue of our own goodness, we are unlikely to praise or thank God. But if we are like the woman who washed the feet of Jesus with fine perfume mingled with her tears—from a grateful heart that recognizes its own unworthiness of His great gift—we will, like her, lavish Him with thanks for WHO HE IS and WHAT HE’S DONE FOR US.
Beyond the blessing we are to ourselves when we order our lives aright as His Word admonishes that we do, when we accord Him the honor due His holy name, He promises something else that we cannot begin to achieve apart from Him. He says He will then demonstrate the salvation of God! He will use those who honor Him, who praise Him, who live their lives in accordance with His will to show His salvation to others! And that is life’s most worthy aim.
In Psalm 50:23, the Lord says something beautiful in all its aspects, “He who brings an offering of praise and thanksgiving honors Me; and he who orders his life aright, to him will I demonstrate the salvation of God.” Think about those words for a minute, no, ponder them a lifetime, for they are indeed words of life.
What is an offering? In a nutshell, it is something given. God who owns everything wants something from us! That is a remarkable concept! There is nothing that exists that is not His and He dispenses it as He will, but one thing He cannot have unless we give it to Him is our praise and thanks.
If we credit ourselves with what we have, with what we achieve; if we think we are saved because we are worthy by virtue of our own goodness, we are unlikely to praise or thank God. But if we are like the woman who washed the feet of Jesus with fine perfume mingled with her tears—from a grateful heart that recognizes its own unworthiness of His great gift—we will, like her, lavish Him with thanks for WHO HE IS and WHAT HE’S DONE FOR US.
Beyond the blessing we are to ourselves when we order our lives aright as His Word admonishes that we do, when we accord Him the honor due His holy name, He promises something else that we cannot begin to achieve apart from Him. He says He will then demonstrate the salvation of God! He will use those who honor Him, who praise Him, who live their lives in accordance with His will to show His salvation to others! And that is life’s most worthy aim.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
March 21
Here’s a delightful promise from II Corinthians 9:8. It says, “God is able to make all grace abound toward you so you may always, in every circumstance be furnished to every good work.” We want God’s grace to abound toward us. We want His blessings to overflow in our direction.
The second part of the promise is the section we tend to dismiss. The only inference we can make here is that when He blesses us, it is not in order that we may consume our abundance upon ourselves but in order that we may have all we need in order to accomplish all He desires us to do!
That He actually wants something of us is often the part we tune out. God has given us the ability to succeed. Some people have mental acuity, some have athletic prowess, some have social grace, some have it all. Early in life, people generally discover what their strengths are and how to employ them successfully. The resultant abundance, however, is usually counted as their own.
How many actually credit the Lord with gifting them in ways that have enabled them to attain worthy goals? How many extrapolate from their success a desire to share what they’ve achieved with others? How many have ever given a momentary consideration to the prospect of using all with which they’ve been supplied toward doing good work for the Kingdom? All you have and all you are belong to Jesus. Spend yourself for Him.
Here’s a delightful promise from II Corinthians 9:8. It says, “God is able to make all grace abound toward you so you may always, in every circumstance be furnished to every good work.” We want God’s grace to abound toward us. We want His blessings to overflow in our direction.
The second part of the promise is the section we tend to dismiss. The only inference we can make here is that when He blesses us, it is not in order that we may consume our abundance upon ourselves but in order that we may have all we need in order to accomplish all He desires us to do!
That He actually wants something of us is often the part we tune out. God has given us the ability to succeed. Some people have mental acuity, some have athletic prowess, some have social grace, some have it all. Early in life, people generally discover what their strengths are and how to employ them successfully. The resultant abundance, however, is usually counted as their own.
How many actually credit the Lord with gifting them in ways that have enabled them to attain worthy goals? How many extrapolate from their success a desire to share what they’ve achieved with others? How many have ever given a momentary consideration to the prospect of using all with which they’ve been supplied toward doing good work for the Kingdom? All you have and all you are belong to Jesus. Spend yourself for Him.
Friday, March 20, 2009
March 20
Proverbs 3:9, 10 divulges a profound secret, a secret that all of us yearn to appropriate but sometimes fail to discover. We long to be prosperous—not merely financially but also spiritually, yet we find ourselves lacking in even the realm of worldly prosperity, let alone in the more important realm of the eternal.
The key found in this scripture says, “Honor the Lord with your substance, with the firstfruits of your labors; so shall your barns be filled with plenty, and your vats overflowing with new wine.” This sounds like a great caption for the prosperity gospel, but it is more than a catch phrase. It is sound advice.
The Lord has affirmed in many places in the scripture that it is His will for His people to prosper. A notable example is found in III John 2 where the beloved apostle is addressing his flock. It is to the people of God he says, “I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers.” John is not wishing only for the accumulation of wealth of believers, however.
It is his fervent hope that those who profess Christ prosper financially, physically, and spiritually! When we who name the name of Jesus surrender our substance to Him, we empower Him to release the fullness of His blessings, both temporal and spiritual, to us. When we demonstrate our faithfulness in managing the fleeting resources of time, He entrusts to us the abiding treasures of eternity.
Proverbs 3:9, 10 divulges a profound secret, a secret that all of us yearn to appropriate but sometimes fail to discover. We long to be prosperous—not merely financially but also spiritually, yet we find ourselves lacking in even the realm of worldly prosperity, let alone in the more important realm of the eternal.
The key found in this scripture says, “Honor the Lord with your substance, with the firstfruits of your labors; so shall your barns be filled with plenty, and your vats overflowing with new wine.” This sounds like a great caption for the prosperity gospel, but it is more than a catch phrase. It is sound advice.
The Lord has affirmed in many places in the scripture that it is His will for His people to prosper. A notable example is found in III John 2 where the beloved apostle is addressing his flock. It is to the people of God he says, “I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers.” John is not wishing only for the accumulation of wealth of believers, however.
It is his fervent hope that those who profess Christ prosper financially, physically, and spiritually! When we who name the name of Jesus surrender our substance to Him, we empower Him to release the fullness of His blessings, both temporal and spiritual, to us. When we demonstrate our faithfulness in managing the fleeting resources of time, He entrusts to us the abiding treasures of eternity.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
March 19
We humans tend to make rash promises. Oh, our intentions are honorable. It’s our resolve that falters. We assure our friends we’ll help them move to the new home they’ve constructed, but when moving day arrives, we’re attending to another commitment. We tell our kids we’ll take them camping before we remember that the boss has scheduled a weekend session.
And it goes on. We mean well, but we’re over extended to start with and we can hardly keep track of ourselves. We do the same thing in the spiritual realm. When we come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ we fully intend to follow after Him in total surrender to His will and His plan for us.
As Psalm 119:44 affirms, “I will keep Your law continually,” so do we assert our commitment to lay aside our own will, our own waywardness, to follow hard after the law of the Lord and the furtherance of His plan. When we mouth the words, it is with the sincerest of intent to live our promise to the hilt.
But we have forgotten who we are and how we function. We’ve neglected to take into account the myriad failed promises we’ve left in our wake. How do we resolve this perplexity? We can’t do it on our own. We need the Holy Spirit. Thank God, Jesus promised to send Him to us—and HE keeps His word!
We humans tend to make rash promises. Oh, our intentions are honorable. It’s our resolve that falters. We assure our friends we’ll help them move to the new home they’ve constructed, but when moving day arrives, we’re attending to another commitment. We tell our kids we’ll take them camping before we remember that the boss has scheduled a weekend session.
And it goes on. We mean well, but we’re over extended to start with and we can hardly keep track of ourselves. We do the same thing in the spiritual realm. When we come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ we fully intend to follow after Him in total surrender to His will and His plan for us.
As Psalm 119:44 affirms, “I will keep Your law continually,” so do we assert our commitment to lay aside our own will, our own waywardness, to follow hard after the law of the Lord and the furtherance of His plan. When we mouth the words, it is with the sincerest of intent to live our promise to the hilt.
But we have forgotten who we are and how we function. We’ve neglected to take into account the myriad failed promises we’ve left in our wake. How do we resolve this perplexity? We can’t do it on our own. We need the Holy Spirit. Thank God, Jesus promised to send Him to us—and HE keeps His word!
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
March 18
In Jeremiah 1:5 we get a glimpse of the pervasiveness of God’s provision for our lives and service to Him, of the completeness of His intent to reveal His will and His purposes through our lives. Here the Word states emphatically, “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you; and before you were born, I set you apart and appointed you to be a prophet to the nations.”
Perhaps we have not been appointed as a prophet to the nations as was Jeremiah, but as with Jeremiah, God has a perfect purpose for every person ever formed in the womb. Each of us has a role to play in the accomplishment of the Kingdom purposes of the Lord and each of us must discover what we are to do if we are to be fulfilled, if we are to be complete.
Jesus came to earth that we might receive the salvation He provided at Calvary and He also gave the Holy Spirit to those who believe in Him in order that we might have the guidance we need to accomplish the purposes to which we have been called. He does not expect any of us to flounder aimlessly without the compass of the Holy Spirit to bring us to a full awareness of our Kingdom’s purpose.
As Jeremiah was emboldened to convey the strong message of the Holy One to a lost generation, as His words have redounded through the corridors of history to us in our lost-ness today, so we may be endued with power from on high to speak the hard sayings, to call our generation to focus on Christ! He is still saving the lost and empowering the faithful. We who love Him must be His voice in our generation.
In Jeremiah 1:5 we get a glimpse of the pervasiveness of God’s provision for our lives and service to Him, of the completeness of His intent to reveal His will and His purposes through our lives. Here the Word states emphatically, “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you; and before you were born, I set you apart and appointed you to be a prophet to the nations.”
Perhaps we have not been appointed as a prophet to the nations as was Jeremiah, but as with Jeremiah, God has a perfect purpose for every person ever formed in the womb. Each of us has a role to play in the accomplishment of the Kingdom purposes of the Lord and each of us must discover what we are to do if we are to be fulfilled, if we are to be complete.
Jesus came to earth that we might receive the salvation He provided at Calvary and He also gave the Holy Spirit to those who believe in Him in order that we might have the guidance we need to accomplish the purposes to which we have been called. He does not expect any of us to flounder aimlessly without the compass of the Holy Spirit to bring us to a full awareness of our Kingdom’s purpose.
As Jeremiah was emboldened to convey the strong message of the Holy One to a lost generation, as His words have redounded through the corridors of history to us in our lost-ness today, so we may be endued with power from on high to speak the hard sayings, to call our generation to focus on Christ! He is still saving the lost and empowering the faithful. We who love Him must be His voice in our generation.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
March 17
We’ve all read the stories of people whose lives had taken them far from the inheritance to which they were heir, of the valiant search that was made for them so they could receive what was rightfully theirs. Sometimes we feel like those lost people. We know something is missing from our lives, but we haven’t discovered what it is or how to attain it.
At times, we feel we must struggle against circumstances and prevail upon God if we are ever to embrace what we know, in the depth of our being, to be ours—elusive though it may be. King David expressed our frustration when he said in II Kings 20:3, “O Lord, remember how I have walked before You in faithfulness, how I have sought You with a full heart and done what is good in Your sight.”
Like David, we are endeavoring to prevail upon God to move His mighty hand in our behalf because we are worthy, because we deserve to see evidence that He is on our side—evidence that declares to the world that there is a reward to righteousness, to following God’s path rather than the world’s path. So we enumerate our litany of surrender and service in order to prevail upon the Lord to undertake in our behalf.
What has escaped our awareness is the fact that HE is always with us! He knows our “down-sitting and our up-rising.” He knows the thoughts and intents of our hearts. More than we yearn to be restored to the fullness of our inheritance in Christ, the Lord longs to lavish us with power in our prayers, with prevailing faith to enable us to serve Him with might so we’ll be empowered to receive to ourselves the fruit of His provision!
We’ve all read the stories of people whose lives had taken them far from the inheritance to which they were heir, of the valiant search that was made for them so they could receive what was rightfully theirs. Sometimes we feel like those lost people. We know something is missing from our lives, but we haven’t discovered what it is or how to attain it.
At times, we feel we must struggle against circumstances and prevail upon God if we are ever to embrace what we know, in the depth of our being, to be ours—elusive though it may be. King David expressed our frustration when he said in II Kings 20:3, “O Lord, remember how I have walked before You in faithfulness, how I have sought You with a full heart and done what is good in Your sight.”
Like David, we are endeavoring to prevail upon God to move His mighty hand in our behalf because we are worthy, because we deserve to see evidence that He is on our side—evidence that declares to the world that there is a reward to righteousness, to following God’s path rather than the world’s path. So we enumerate our litany of surrender and service in order to prevail upon the Lord to undertake in our behalf.
What has escaped our awareness is the fact that HE is always with us! He knows our “down-sitting and our up-rising.” He knows the thoughts and intents of our hearts. More than we yearn to be restored to the fullness of our inheritance in Christ, the Lord longs to lavish us with power in our prayers, with prevailing faith to enable us to serve Him with might so we’ll be empowered to receive to ourselves the fruit of His provision!
Sunday, March 15, 2009
March 16
The Lord’s promises are precious—not only to us but to Him. He guards His Word. He fulfills His Word. Some of His intentions toward us are so important in His eyes that He reiterates them throughout the Bible. It’s important to Him that we understand fully that HE KEEPS HIS WORD! His promises cannot fail.
One, an affirmation of His care over His people, is stated in Genesis 28:15 and repeated in other places in scripture. It was first promised to Jacob but applies to us, too. It says, “I am with you and will keep you wherever you go. I will bring you back to the land of your father. I will neither leave you nor forsake you. I will perform all I have promised you.”
There is assurance in these words. Jacob, ‘the usurper’, had stolen the birthright from his older brother Esau (who did not value spiritual things because his focus was on worldly pursuits.) Because of this act, Jacob had to flee his brother’s wrath. God promised Jacob He would be with him as he fled and that He would prosper him in the place where He led him.
The Lord promised also that He would be with him when it was time for him to return to the land of his father. As He said He would, God performed all His word to Jacob. The promise is to us as well. When we lay claim to what the Lord promises to us, He will certainly provide every aspect of the good He has assured is ours. Our part—just trust Him.
The Lord’s promises are precious—not only to us but to Him. He guards His Word. He fulfills His Word. Some of His intentions toward us are so important in His eyes that He reiterates them throughout the Bible. It’s important to Him that we understand fully that HE KEEPS HIS WORD! His promises cannot fail.
One, an affirmation of His care over His people, is stated in Genesis 28:15 and repeated in other places in scripture. It was first promised to Jacob but applies to us, too. It says, “I am with you and will keep you wherever you go. I will bring you back to the land of your father. I will neither leave you nor forsake you. I will perform all I have promised you.”
There is assurance in these words. Jacob, ‘the usurper’, had stolen the birthright from his older brother Esau (who did not value spiritual things because his focus was on worldly pursuits.) Because of this act, Jacob had to flee his brother’s wrath. God promised Jacob He would be with him as he fled and that He would prosper him in the place where He led him.
The Lord promised also that He would be with him when it was time for him to return to the land of his father. As He said He would, God performed all His word to Jacob. The promise is to us as well. When we lay claim to what the Lord promises to us, He will certainly provide every aspect of the good He has assured is ours. Our part—just trust Him.
March 15
Psalm 37:7-9 gives excellent counsel to the man who desires that the yoke of oppression be removed from him. Whether that yoke is self imposed or one placed upon him by the demands of life or the wiles of the wicked one, the advice remains true and unalterable.
It says here, “Rest in the Lord and wait patiently upon Him. Fret not because of evildoers; cease from anger and from plotting retaliation, for the evildoers shall be cut off, but the man who waits upon the Lord shall inherit the earth.”
These verses acknowledge the reality of the battles a man encounters because of those who strive against him. Perhaps a co-worker is scheming to get his job. Perhaps a Lothario is plotting to seduce his girlfriend. The scenarios are limitless yet in the throes of all of them, the Lord admonishes that he wait on Him.
How can we remain passive in waiting rather than active in possessing all that we desire to achieve? Because we know that the Lord is on the side of the righteous! We have His assurance that the devices of the plotters of wickedness shall be undone while the man who trusts His goodness is heir to all things.
Psalm 37:7-9 gives excellent counsel to the man who desires that the yoke of oppression be removed from him. Whether that yoke is self imposed or one placed upon him by the demands of life or the wiles of the wicked one, the advice remains true and unalterable.
It says here, “Rest in the Lord and wait patiently upon Him. Fret not because of evildoers; cease from anger and from plotting retaliation, for the evildoers shall be cut off, but the man who waits upon the Lord shall inherit the earth.”
These verses acknowledge the reality of the battles a man encounters because of those who strive against him. Perhaps a co-worker is scheming to get his job. Perhaps a Lothario is plotting to seduce his girlfriend. The scenarios are limitless yet in the throes of all of them, the Lord admonishes that he wait on Him.
How can we remain passive in waiting rather than active in possessing all that we desire to achieve? Because we know that the Lord is on the side of the righteous! We have His assurance that the devices of the plotters of wickedness shall be undone while the man who trusts His goodness is heir to all things.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
March 14
Who can imagine that wearing a yoke can possibly give rest! Although we don’t see a yoke very often in our modern world, if we venture into third world countries we will see them upon beasts of burden. They are heavy and they are placed around the necks of the laboring animals as they pull the plows over furrows in the fields. They are often yoked as teams to labor in tandem with another beast of burden.
They are wearying weights that allow the farmer to control the actions of his plow mule or his oxen. Through this control, the farmer accomplishes the tasks he has set about to achieve. In Matthew 11:29, Jesus says, “Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me for I am gentle in heart and you will find rest for your souls.”
In this passage, He is acknowledging that all of us labor under some yoke—either the world’s or the devil’s or one that is self-imposed. The Lord has an alternative to any of these weighty yokes. The world places rigorous demands upon us and we are complicit in its imposition of its yoke upon us—we labor under the weight of a desire for success, power, acclaim—worthy but stressful goals. The evil one would yoke us with the crushing burden of sin.
Jesus alone places a light yoke upon us. Jesus alone would have us labor under His yoke of salvation, that includes His love, His peace, His hope, His wisdom, His blessings! When we are under His yoke, we have His Holy Spirit to guide us as we labor in His vineyard, and through the control it allows Him, we succeed in accomplishing the tasks Jesus has set before us to achieve in the behalf of His Kingdom.
Who can imagine that wearing a yoke can possibly give rest! Although we don’t see a yoke very often in our modern world, if we venture into third world countries we will see them upon beasts of burden. They are heavy and they are placed around the necks of the laboring animals as they pull the plows over furrows in the fields. They are often yoked as teams to labor in tandem with another beast of burden.
They are wearying weights that allow the farmer to control the actions of his plow mule or his oxen. Through this control, the farmer accomplishes the tasks he has set about to achieve. In Matthew 11:29, Jesus says, “Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me for I am gentle in heart and you will find rest for your souls.”
In this passage, He is acknowledging that all of us labor under some yoke—either the world’s or the devil’s or one that is self-imposed. The Lord has an alternative to any of these weighty yokes. The world places rigorous demands upon us and we are complicit in its imposition of its yoke upon us—we labor under the weight of a desire for success, power, acclaim—worthy but stressful goals. The evil one would yoke us with the crushing burden of sin.
Jesus alone places a light yoke upon us. Jesus alone would have us labor under His yoke of salvation, that includes His love, His peace, His hope, His wisdom, His blessings! When we are under His yoke, we have His Holy Spirit to guide us as we labor in His vineyard, and through the control it allows Him, we succeed in accomplishing the tasks Jesus has set before us to achieve in the behalf of His Kingdom.
Friday, March 13, 2009
March 13
Jesus knows us inside out. He should because the maker of a product always knows its proper assembly and rules for use. The manufacturer also best understands the things that might go wrong and how they can be avoided. Our Heavenly Maker gave us His Word to counsel us on how we may best attain satisfaction in the use of our mortal lives.
His step-by-step instructions are delineated in the Bible and we would be wise to follow them. One of the most essential things to living serenely while sojourning in this vale of tears was addressed by the Lord just before His crucifixion. He had spoken many words of truth to His disciples and to those who would follow them—us—and at the end of His life on earth He seemed to say, “Oh, and by the way, here’s one more thing I must share with you before I leave.”
In John 14:27, Jesus says, “Peace I leave with you…not as the world gives do I give peace to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” He knew that His followers would be greatly unsettled by the events that were to unfold regarding His mockery of a trial and crucifixion. He also knew life would present many eventualities that could shake the faith of believers through the centuries.
He knew the anecdote to any disturbing eventuality is peace—not the peace contingent upon comfortable natural circumstances. That’s the world’s peace and it is as fickle as a summer breeze. Jesus extends the kind of peace that transcends circumstances, the kind of settled peace that quiets hearts through every manner of trial; that overcomes every fear. And He leaves it with us! It’s not extended for a moment. It’s our settled, abiding peace.
Jesus knows us inside out. He should because the maker of a product always knows its proper assembly and rules for use. The manufacturer also best understands the things that might go wrong and how they can be avoided. Our Heavenly Maker gave us His Word to counsel us on how we may best attain satisfaction in the use of our mortal lives.
His step-by-step instructions are delineated in the Bible and we would be wise to follow them. One of the most essential things to living serenely while sojourning in this vale of tears was addressed by the Lord just before His crucifixion. He had spoken many words of truth to His disciples and to those who would follow them—us—and at the end of His life on earth He seemed to say, “Oh, and by the way, here’s one more thing I must share with you before I leave.”
In John 14:27, Jesus says, “Peace I leave with you…not as the world gives do I give peace to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” He knew that His followers would be greatly unsettled by the events that were to unfold regarding His mockery of a trial and crucifixion. He also knew life would present many eventualities that could shake the faith of believers through the centuries.
He knew the anecdote to any disturbing eventuality is peace—not the peace contingent upon comfortable natural circumstances. That’s the world’s peace and it is as fickle as a summer breeze. Jesus extends the kind of peace that transcends circumstances, the kind of settled peace that quiets hearts through every manner of trial; that overcomes every fear. And He leaves it with us! It’s not extended for a moment. It’s our settled, abiding peace.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
March 12
We are proud of our innate abilities. We can be objective enough to know that we lack many talents but we delight in the ones we have. Perhaps we are good with words. Perhaps we have skill with paints. Perhaps we can calculate mathematic equations in our head without error. Perhaps we are able to put other people at ease or to help them recognize the talents they possess.
We may be astounded in our abilities because they were not learned from the adults in our lives as we were growing up. Therefore, we may see ourselves as “self-made men.” But we’re wrong if we give credit to ourselves for any achievements we may accomplish with the talents we possess.
Exodus 31:3 says, “I have filled him with the Spirit of God in wisdom and in ability and in intelligence and understanding and in knowledge. I have given him skill in all manner of craftsmanship.” That covers everything—whether intellectual acumen, ability to empathize with others, or skill with tools of every sort—God has planted those talents and abilities within us.
He anticipates that we’ll use them to His glory. How do we know that? Because His Word specifies that He has created us for His pleasure. He, like a loving Father, delights in the honor His children’s lives bring to His name. If we use our abilities for only our aggrandizement, we will almost certainly achieve the recognition of men. But the praise of our Father is of infinitely more worth.
We are proud of our innate abilities. We can be objective enough to know that we lack many talents but we delight in the ones we have. Perhaps we are good with words. Perhaps we have skill with paints. Perhaps we can calculate mathematic equations in our head without error. Perhaps we are able to put other people at ease or to help them recognize the talents they possess.
We may be astounded in our abilities because they were not learned from the adults in our lives as we were growing up. Therefore, we may see ourselves as “self-made men.” But we’re wrong if we give credit to ourselves for any achievements we may accomplish with the talents we possess.
Exodus 31:3 says, “I have filled him with the Spirit of God in wisdom and in ability and in intelligence and understanding and in knowledge. I have given him skill in all manner of craftsmanship.” That covers everything—whether intellectual acumen, ability to empathize with others, or skill with tools of every sort—God has planted those talents and abilities within us.
He anticipates that we’ll use them to His glory. How do we know that? Because His Word specifies that He has created us for His pleasure. He, like a loving Father, delights in the honor His children’s lives bring to His name. If we use our abilities for only our aggrandizement, we will almost certainly achieve the recognition of men. But the praise of our Father is of infinitely more worth.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
March 11
“Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all things shall be added to you.” This promise in Matthew 6:33 is a hard one to ignore. Who wouldn’t like to have “all things”—every good thing imaginable—added as blessings into our lives! This hopeful gospel truth was spoken by Jesus Himself and anything He says cannot fail, for He cannot lie.
As with all the covenant promises of the Bible, this word is a two way street. The expectation is that the hearer of the word will fulfill his part before the Giver of the word has any obligation to perform. Just what does our part entail? Exactly what does the Lord expect of us if we wish to receive the bounty He has in His hand for us?
In a word, “everything.” It is incumbent upon us to diligently search after Christ and His Kingdom’s truth if we are to be the recipients of His Kingdom’s bounty. Our admonition to seek includes not simply an acquisition of knowledge of the Kingdom of Christ but also our allegiance to it. The Lord expects us to become citizens of His Kingdom—not merely “illegal aliens” who slip into His Kingdom to avail ourselves of its benefits, but full-fledged citizens who know its laws and respect its values.
He expects us to renounce the kingdoms of earth which formerly held our allegiance and align ourselves fully with His eternal domain. He does not expect that we retain our lust for the treasures of earth and the power and acclaim of earth but that we renounce all the trappings of the world that have so filled our eyes and our longing. The Lord wants us to be born again into His Kingdom and righteously adhere to its laws so we may receive all He desires to add into our lives.
“Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all things shall be added to you.” This promise in Matthew 6:33 is a hard one to ignore. Who wouldn’t like to have “all things”—every good thing imaginable—added as blessings into our lives! This hopeful gospel truth was spoken by Jesus Himself and anything He says cannot fail, for He cannot lie.
As with all the covenant promises of the Bible, this word is a two way street. The expectation is that the hearer of the word will fulfill his part before the Giver of the word has any obligation to perform. Just what does our part entail? Exactly what does the Lord expect of us if we wish to receive the bounty He has in His hand for us?
In a word, “everything.” It is incumbent upon us to diligently search after Christ and His Kingdom’s truth if we are to be the recipients of His Kingdom’s bounty. Our admonition to seek includes not simply an acquisition of knowledge of the Kingdom of Christ but also our allegiance to it. The Lord expects us to become citizens of His Kingdom—not merely “illegal aliens” who slip into His Kingdom to avail ourselves of its benefits, but full-fledged citizens who know its laws and respect its values.
He expects us to renounce the kingdoms of earth which formerly held our allegiance and align ourselves fully with His eternal domain. He does not expect that we retain our lust for the treasures of earth and the power and acclaim of earth but that we renounce all the trappings of the world that have so filled our eyes and our longing. The Lord wants us to be born again into His Kingdom and righteously adhere to its laws so we may receive all He desires to add into our lives.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Hello, John!
What a nice surprise to see that you have joined my small blog! I pray it is a blessing to you.
God is with you to perfect His will in all that concerns you and your precious family. Jesus is "able to do exceeding abundantly above all we can ask or think, according to His power at work within."
What a nice surprise to see that you have joined my small blog! I pray it is a blessing to you.
God is with you to perfect His will in all that concerns you and your precious family. Jesus is "able to do exceeding abundantly above all we can ask or think, according to His power at work within."
March 10
Perhaps the most elusive commodity to the Christian is peace. It is promised as part of the package that Jesus extends to those who trust in Him, yet the evidence of it is often missing from our lives as believers. We echo the cry of the Psalmist in Psalm 6:3, “My soul is exceedingly disturbed. How long, O Lord, until You restore peace to me?”
We are distressed by many things. They may or may not be of the magnitude of the warfare that plagued David, or the stench of sin upon this leader who was a man after God’s own heart, or the resultant turmoil within his family because of that sin, but we know the depth of distress from which his soul cried for the peace that only the Lord can provide.
Like David, we must recognize that the only Source of hope we have in the throes of the dilemmas that surround us on every hand, that seek to destroy our very soul is the Christ who came to set us free from every fetter that would attempt to bind us, from every sin that would endeavor to destroy our hope in life and rob us of our eternal victory.
Like David, we must look to the Holy one of Israel and proclaim as we are admonished to do in Deuteronomy 31:8, “It is the Lord who goes before me; He is with me; He will neither fail me nor forsake me. I need not fear nor be dismayed…” Whether our circumstances are self-made as were many of David’s or beyond our control, when we look to the Lord, we are assured of peace.
Perhaps the most elusive commodity to the Christian is peace. It is promised as part of the package that Jesus extends to those who trust in Him, yet the evidence of it is often missing from our lives as believers. We echo the cry of the Psalmist in Psalm 6:3, “My soul is exceedingly disturbed. How long, O Lord, until You restore peace to me?”
We are distressed by many things. They may or may not be of the magnitude of the warfare that plagued David, or the stench of sin upon this leader who was a man after God’s own heart, or the resultant turmoil within his family because of that sin, but we know the depth of distress from which his soul cried for the peace that only the Lord can provide.
Like David, we must recognize that the only Source of hope we have in the throes of the dilemmas that surround us on every hand, that seek to destroy our very soul is the Christ who came to set us free from every fetter that would attempt to bind us, from every sin that would endeavor to destroy our hope in life and rob us of our eternal victory.
Like David, we must look to the Holy one of Israel and proclaim as we are admonished to do in Deuteronomy 31:8, “It is the Lord who goes before me; He is with me; He will neither fail me nor forsake me. I need not fear nor be dismayed…” Whether our circumstances are self-made as were many of David’s or beyond our control, when we look to the Lord, we are assured of peace.
Monday, March 9, 2009
March 8
Psalm 19 is a beautiful passage of scripture, and verses 9 and 10 convey a truth that is quickened to the hearts of those who love the Lord but is lost to the minds of the rebellious of heart. It says, “The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever, the law of the lord is true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea than much fine gold! They are also sweeter than honey.”
The word fear does not mean trepidation, it means reverential awe. When we hold the Lord in reverence it is because we have an understanding, though finite, of His purity. We recognize His great power, His unfathomable love, His compassion that required Him to devise a plan of salvation for us, but we can hardly wrap our minds around His absolute purity. How can creatures of a fallen world, sullied by our own sin, appropriate the concept of One who is absolutely clean!
In conjunction with His purity is His law. He is the essence of His law and the fulfillment of His law. Neither He nor it have ever been or can ever be corrupted or diminished. The total fulfillment of God’s immutable law was evidenced in the perfect, sinless life of Jesus. Our hearts’ longing, if we are His, is to manifest His purity and perfection.
Because we have been washed clean by His shed blood, we are given the privilege of wearing the robe of His righteousness that Jesus has supplied. In walking by His side, adorned with His loveliness, reflecting His perfection is a sweetness that exceeds any of life’s delectable pleasures. Because we walk in reverential fear.
Psalm 19 is a beautiful passage of scripture, and verses 9 and 10 convey a truth that is quickened to the hearts of those who love the Lord but is lost to the minds of the rebellious of heart. It says, “The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever, the law of the lord is true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea than much fine gold! They are also sweeter than honey.”
The word fear does not mean trepidation, it means reverential awe. When we hold the Lord in reverence it is because we have an understanding, though finite, of His purity. We recognize His great power, His unfathomable love, His compassion that required Him to devise a plan of salvation for us, but we can hardly wrap our minds around His absolute purity. How can creatures of a fallen world, sullied by our own sin, appropriate the concept of One who is absolutely clean!
In conjunction with His purity is His law. He is the essence of His law and the fulfillment of His law. Neither He nor it have ever been or can ever be corrupted or diminished. The total fulfillment of God’s immutable law was evidenced in the perfect, sinless life of Jesus. Our hearts’ longing, if we are His, is to manifest His purity and perfection.
Because we have been washed clean by His shed blood, we are given the privilege of wearing the robe of His righteousness that Jesus has supplied. In walking by His side, adorned with His loveliness, reflecting His perfection is a sweetness that exceeds any of life’s delectable pleasures. Because we walk in reverential fear.
March 9
Proverbs 9:11 states a phenomenal truth, “By wisdom from God shall your days be multiplied and the years of your life be increased.” That’s a tall order! How can wisdom produce what it promises? The clarification for that assertion is related elsewhere in the Word.
In Psalm 33:18, 19, we are told, “The Lord’s eye is upon those who fear Him, who wait for Him and hope in His mercy and loving-kindness to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine.” Godly wisdom first compels a man to recognize his need for the Lord and quickens a yearning for His salvation within a man’s heart.
Once that basic need, the need for salvation is realized, the Holy Spirit moves upon the man yet further to open the heart of his understanding to see that the need can be supplied only through the substitutionary death and resurrection of the Lord. Once a man has appropriated Jesus as his personal Savior, he can then be washed clean of all sin.
Now walking in the reverent fear of the Lord and hoping only in Him, the man can be blessed by the hand of God that will open to him at his point of need. Whatever he cannot supply, the God in whom he now trusts has it in His coffers and His eye is upon the people who wisely look to Him for all the longing of their lives! Jesus will overcome their circumstances—including famine and death!
Proverbs 9:11 states a phenomenal truth, “By wisdom from God shall your days be multiplied and the years of your life be increased.” That’s a tall order! How can wisdom produce what it promises? The clarification for that assertion is related elsewhere in the Word.
In Psalm 33:18, 19, we are told, “The Lord’s eye is upon those who fear Him, who wait for Him and hope in His mercy and loving-kindness to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine.” Godly wisdom first compels a man to recognize his need for the Lord and quickens a yearning for His salvation within a man’s heart.
Once that basic need, the need for salvation is realized, the Holy Spirit moves upon the man yet further to open the heart of his understanding to see that the need can be supplied only through the substitutionary death and resurrection of the Lord. Once a man has appropriated Jesus as his personal Savior, he can then be washed clean of all sin.
Now walking in the reverent fear of the Lord and hoping only in Him, the man can be blessed by the hand of God that will open to him at his point of need. Whatever he cannot supply, the God in whom he now trusts has it in His coffers and His eye is upon the people who wisely look to Him for all the longing of their lives! Jesus will overcome their circumstances—including famine and death!
Saturday, March 7, 2009
March 7
Psalm 57:2 can make the casual reader of the Word think God is more a genie in a bottle than the ruler of the universe. Although it says, “I will cry unto God Most High who performs all things for me,” we must not get the mistaken notion that He is there to satisfy our every whim.
Notice that it does not suggest that the Lord will comply with every wish we might entertain but that He will hear the cry of our hearts and perform all things…The cries of our hearts represent deep longings. Our deep cries are not for the eye candy of the world.
Those things that well up from the depth of our being are the longings of our spirit man—the part of us who yearns after meaning in life and knowledge of the Most High. It is these inner longings that the Lord wants to satisfy. It is the facilitation of these inner strivings to be like Him, to further His Kingdom’s purposes that He performs.
And, there is a nuance of meaning to the word for that may play into significance here. In Romans 8:31 it says, “If God be for us, who can be against us?” The meaning is that if God is on our part, no force against us can prosper. Perhaps the meaning of the word for in Psalm 57:2 is also that God will perform the things for which we cry if they are ultimately to our eternal benefit—truly on our part.
Psalm 57:2 can make the casual reader of the Word think God is more a genie in a bottle than the ruler of the universe. Although it says, “I will cry unto God Most High who performs all things for me,” we must not get the mistaken notion that He is there to satisfy our every whim.
Notice that it does not suggest that the Lord will comply with every wish we might entertain but that He will hear the cry of our hearts and perform all things…The cries of our hearts represent deep longings. Our deep cries are not for the eye candy of the world.
Those things that well up from the depth of our being are the longings of our spirit man—the part of us who yearns after meaning in life and knowledge of the Most High. It is these inner longings that the Lord wants to satisfy. It is the facilitation of these inner strivings to be like Him, to further His Kingdom’s purposes that He performs.
And, there is a nuance of meaning to the word for that may play into significance here. In Romans 8:31 it says, “If God be for us, who can be against us?” The meaning is that if God is on our part, no force against us can prosper. Perhaps the meaning of the word for in Psalm 57:2 is also that God will perform the things for which we cry if they are ultimately to our eternal benefit—truly on our part.
Friday, March 6, 2009
March 5
We have become very diet conscious. We not only resolve to eat well-balanced diets but also to seek out natural foods that have not been laden with pesticides and preservatives. We know that what we put into our mouths can have a tremendous impact for good or for ill upon the entirety of our bodies—upon the whole of our lives!
Corresponding to this factor of our physical well-being is another one in the spiritual realm. The Word admonishes in Proverbs 18:20-21, “A man shall be filled with the fruit of his mouth, with the consequence of his words. Death and life are in the power of the tongue and they who indulge it shall eat its fruit.”
This is a very straight-forward assertion—what comes out of our mouths fills us and the words that fill us have consequences. There is tremendous power in the things we say, for they reflect the thoughts and feelings within our minds and hearts. The difference between the outcome of the circumstances of our lives could not be more profound, and the Word makes an extremely clear differentiation between the alternatives before us.
The words we speak do not merely channel the direction of our lives, they do not merely impact the outlook we embrace or the worldview that we espouse. The words we utter hold the key to our existence and its one great definition—life or death! Indeed, it is not the money or the possessions or the power that we have that are our essence. It is the existence of life itself or its lack that define us. And within our tongue is the power to effect the option we select.
We have become very diet conscious. We not only resolve to eat well-balanced diets but also to seek out natural foods that have not been laden with pesticides and preservatives. We know that what we put into our mouths can have a tremendous impact for good or for ill upon the entirety of our bodies—upon the whole of our lives!
Corresponding to this factor of our physical well-being is another one in the spiritual realm. The Word admonishes in Proverbs 18:20-21, “A man shall be filled with the fruit of his mouth, with the consequence of his words. Death and life are in the power of the tongue and they who indulge it shall eat its fruit.”
This is a very straight-forward assertion—what comes out of our mouths fills us and the words that fill us have consequences. There is tremendous power in the things we say, for they reflect the thoughts and feelings within our minds and hearts. The difference between the outcome of the circumstances of our lives could not be more profound, and the Word makes an extremely clear differentiation between the alternatives before us.
The words we speak do not merely channel the direction of our lives, they do not merely impact the outlook we embrace or the worldview that we espouse. The words we utter hold the key to our existence and its one great definition—life or death! Indeed, it is not the money or the possessions or the power that we have that are our essence. It is the existence of life itself or its lack that define us. And within our tongue is the power to effect the option we select.
March 6
Continuing with the theme of power as it is reflected in our words, we must consider the profound truth in Matthew 12:37 that tells us it is, “by your words you shall be justified or by your words you shall be condemned.” In essence, it’s saying we have total control over our destiny.
We relish the prospect of being able to chart the course of our lives through the way that most delights us, yet the impact of the power of our words is not merely in this life! The power He has given us is for not only time but also for eternity. It is with the tongue that we make confession of our sin to Christ and ask Him to cover us in His righteousness.
It is the purpose for which He came to earth and it delights Him to cleanse us of sin and make us acceptable to be received before God’s Mercy Seat. Once we have this wondrous gift of deliverance from sin and shame, we also have the joy of bearing our gifts of love and devotion before the One who inhabits eternity and the right to carry our concerns before Him in prayer. There is a single stipulation once we are born again that He sets before us if we are to gain the access to Him for which we seek.
In Deuteronomy 10:12 we are told what the Lord requires of us “…reverence the Lord your God, walk in His ways and love Him. Serve Him with all your heart.” He does not want half-hearted commitment. He does not want mere lip service, although the fruit of our lips must praise Him. He wants the totality of who we are to belong to Him. He wants first of all our hearts, for out of our heart proceeds the issues of life. When we confess with our mouths the love and faith in our hearts, then we reflect our justification.
Continuing with the theme of power as it is reflected in our words, we must consider the profound truth in Matthew 12:37 that tells us it is, “by your words you shall be justified or by your words you shall be condemned.” In essence, it’s saying we have total control over our destiny.
We relish the prospect of being able to chart the course of our lives through the way that most delights us, yet the impact of the power of our words is not merely in this life! The power He has given us is for not only time but also for eternity. It is with the tongue that we make confession of our sin to Christ and ask Him to cover us in His righteousness.
It is the purpose for which He came to earth and it delights Him to cleanse us of sin and make us acceptable to be received before God’s Mercy Seat. Once we have this wondrous gift of deliverance from sin and shame, we also have the joy of bearing our gifts of love and devotion before the One who inhabits eternity and the right to carry our concerns before Him in prayer. There is a single stipulation once we are born again that He sets before us if we are to gain the access to Him for which we seek.
In Deuteronomy 10:12 we are told what the Lord requires of us “…reverence the Lord your God, walk in His ways and love Him. Serve Him with all your heart.” He does not want half-hearted commitment. He does not want mere lip service, although the fruit of our lips must praise Him. He wants the totality of who we are to belong to Him. He wants first of all our hearts, for out of our heart proceeds the issues of life. When we confess with our mouths the love and faith in our hearts, then we reflect our justification.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
March 4
Sometimes we weary ourselves with our own failures and foibles. We yearn to be better than we are but find ourselves forever failing God, forever falling short of the full measure of faith He desires of us—at least in our own eyes. The things we want to do, the positions we want to take, the truth on which we desire to stand all seem somehow to elude our ability to muster the faith to perform.
The Lord who fashioned us, who allows us a free will, understands our frame. He knows we are at times overwhelmed by our frailty. He knows that the natural man within our bosom compels us at times to entertain him again and indulge his desires while shelving our newly-acquired yearning to please our Savior.
When we find ourselves confronted by the dichotomy of our own personhood, we may take courage from His Word that is our Designer’s Manual—within its pages we find the “how” of tweaking and utilizing the being He designed us to be to optimum advantage. We discover how the corrections can best be made by carefully studying this “operator’s manual.”
Within its pages, we are assured that all we must do is, “Wait expectantly and hope in the Lord; be brave and of a good courage and let your heart be stout and enduring. (Psalm 27:14) This passage encourages us to anticipate that the Lord’s help will be interjected into our need. Because we know He cannot, will not fail us, we can be steadfast and courageous as we await His full supply. Remember, we never overcame--HE DID!
Sometimes we weary ourselves with our own failures and foibles. We yearn to be better than we are but find ourselves forever failing God, forever falling short of the full measure of faith He desires of us—at least in our own eyes. The things we want to do, the positions we want to take, the truth on which we desire to stand all seem somehow to elude our ability to muster the faith to perform.
The Lord who fashioned us, who allows us a free will, understands our frame. He knows we are at times overwhelmed by our frailty. He knows that the natural man within our bosom compels us at times to entertain him again and indulge his desires while shelving our newly-acquired yearning to please our Savior.
When we find ourselves confronted by the dichotomy of our own personhood, we may take courage from His Word that is our Designer’s Manual—within its pages we find the “how” of tweaking and utilizing the being He designed us to be to optimum advantage. We discover how the corrections can best be made by carefully studying this “operator’s manual.”
Within its pages, we are assured that all we must do is, “Wait expectantly and hope in the Lord; be brave and of a good courage and let your heart be stout and enduring. (Psalm 27:14) This passage encourages us to anticipate that the Lord’s help will be interjected into our need. Because we know He cannot, will not fail us, we can be steadfast and courageous as we await His full supply. Remember, we never overcame--HE DID!
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
March 3
“With my whole heart I follow hard after You; Your right hand holds me up.” So says Psalm 63:8, and thus it has been proven in the lives of believers throughout the millennia. It is incumbent upon modern-day professors of faith in Jesus Christ to employ the strategy for security that is here proclaimed.
When our whole heart has been delivered to Jesus, when we have placed our lives at His feet and resolved to be steadfast in our devotion to Him, we perpetuate the action that He began when He presented to us the free gift of salvation that He purchased for us on Calvary.
Though we know it is the desire of God’s heart that every man receive the gift and be ushered from death to life, we also know that the Author of our salvation will not intrude upon any man’s free will. The choice is ours to make. We may accept or reject Christ’s propitiatory death in our behalf.
But when the choice has been made to surrender our sin and receive in its place His crown of life, the assurance is that He will be the power behind our resolve. When we are confronted, like Paul, with our proclivity to run to our old ways, the Lord of Life will steer us back to the path of life and hold us securely there.
“With my whole heart I follow hard after You; Your right hand holds me up.” So says Psalm 63:8, and thus it has been proven in the lives of believers throughout the millennia. It is incumbent upon modern-day professors of faith in Jesus Christ to employ the strategy for security that is here proclaimed.
When our whole heart has been delivered to Jesus, when we have placed our lives at His feet and resolved to be steadfast in our devotion to Him, we perpetuate the action that He began when He presented to us the free gift of salvation that He purchased for us on Calvary.
Though we know it is the desire of God’s heart that every man receive the gift and be ushered from death to life, we also know that the Author of our salvation will not intrude upon any man’s free will. The choice is ours to make. We may accept or reject Christ’s propitiatory death in our behalf.
But when the choice has been made to surrender our sin and receive in its place His crown of life, the assurance is that He will be the power behind our resolve. When we are confronted, like Paul, with our proclivity to run to our old ways, the Lord of Life will steer us back to the path of life and hold us securely there.
March 2
God, the Lover of your soul, wants to share your day. Beginning with your first wakeful moment in the morning and including the last thoughts you ponder as your eyes grow heavy with sleep, He wants to have sweet communion with you. It will be to your great advantage if you allow yourself to share your day with Him.
It is recorded in the New Testament that Jesus often went off alone to pray. Though the crowds followed Him as they might a rock star today, though He was busy about His Father’s business from His youth, He understood the value, the necessity, of time alone with His Father, and He availed Himself of it
If He who was God incarnate required such intimacy of fellowship with the One who inhabits eternity, how much more so must we? If Jesus needed that sense of connection to the Holy One to sustain Him through the rigors of traversing the rugged countryside, of ministering to all manner of human need, of understanding the longing of men’s hearts who cried to Him for help, how much more do we require that connection in order to fulfill our God-ordained destiny!
If we resolve to make Jesus our role model, if we allow Him to be the pattern for our own lives, we will earnestly seek after the Lord in prayer when we arise, and we will maintain that connectedness with Him throughout our day. We will not neglect the fellowship with Him that allows His Holy Spirit to whisper in our ear, “This is the way, walk ye in it.” We will hear and heed, and in following Him, we shall assure that when we lie down, our goodnight prayer to Him will be sweet.
God, the Lover of your soul, wants to share your day. Beginning with your first wakeful moment in the morning and including the last thoughts you ponder as your eyes grow heavy with sleep, He wants to have sweet communion with you. It will be to your great advantage if you allow yourself to share your day with Him.
It is recorded in the New Testament that Jesus often went off alone to pray. Though the crowds followed Him as they might a rock star today, though He was busy about His Father’s business from His youth, He understood the value, the necessity, of time alone with His Father, and He availed Himself of it
If He who was God incarnate required such intimacy of fellowship with the One who inhabits eternity, how much more so must we? If Jesus needed that sense of connection to the Holy One to sustain Him through the rigors of traversing the rugged countryside, of ministering to all manner of human need, of understanding the longing of men’s hearts who cried to Him for help, how much more do we require that connection in order to fulfill our God-ordained destiny!
If we resolve to make Jesus our role model, if we allow Him to be the pattern for our own lives, we will earnestly seek after the Lord in prayer when we arise, and we will maintain that connectedness with Him throughout our day. We will not neglect the fellowship with Him that allows His Holy Spirit to whisper in our ear, “This is the way, walk ye in it.” We will hear and heed, and in following Him, we shall assure that when we lie down, our goodnight prayer to Him will be sweet.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
March 1
Psalm 69:32 declares a hope that we all long to have—all of us who are relying on ourselves but hungering and thirsting after a better way to function in this tabernacle of flesh. It says, “The humble shall see and be glad; you who seek God, inquiring for and seeking Him early; let your hearts revive and live.”
First, it declares the importance of humility. Let’s face it, if we aren’t humble, we are unlikely to be seeking God at all. If we aren’t humble, we are probably relying upon ourselves—our connections, our abilities, our mental acuity—and these are the very things that will ultimately let us down.
Secondly, we are counseled to seek God early. The longer we postpone the need to place our lives at His feet and allow Him to orchestrate the direction we should go, the more off track we’ll get and the greater will be the correction our lives will need when we finally realize how misguided has been the course we’ve been following, how futile has been the “self” strategy we’ve employed.
The reward of our search will be that the third point made in the psalmist’s admonition—our hearts will revive—will cause our hope to be reborn as faith in One greater than ourselves gains ascendancy in our lives, as He washes and cleanses us in the blood He spilled in our behalf, as His Holy Spirit renews our inner man. And then, only then, we shall know true life.
Psalm 69:32 declares a hope that we all long to have—all of us who are relying on ourselves but hungering and thirsting after a better way to function in this tabernacle of flesh. It says, “The humble shall see and be glad; you who seek God, inquiring for and seeking Him early; let your hearts revive and live.”
First, it declares the importance of humility. Let’s face it, if we aren’t humble, we are unlikely to be seeking God at all. If we aren’t humble, we are probably relying upon ourselves—our connections, our abilities, our mental acuity—and these are the very things that will ultimately let us down.
Secondly, we are counseled to seek God early. The longer we postpone the need to place our lives at His feet and allow Him to orchestrate the direction we should go, the more off track we’ll get and the greater will be the correction our lives will need when we finally realize how misguided has been the course we’ve been following, how futile has been the “self” strategy we’ve employed.
The reward of our search will be that the third point made in the psalmist’s admonition—our hearts will revive—will cause our hope to be reborn as faith in One greater than ourselves gains ascendancy in our lives, as He washes and cleanses us in the blood He spilled in our behalf, as His Holy Spirit renews our inner man. And then, only then, we shall know true life.
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