August 31
There is much debate today about the concept we innocently term, “a woman’s right to choose.” Those innocuous words veil an evil of enormous magnitude, for in more direct language they declare that a woman has a right to abort her unborn child.
This is in direct opposition to God’s position in the matter, for He has stated in Exodus 21:22, 23 that if harm comes to an unborn child through strife, the perpetrator is to be punished. God does not take lightly the loss of a gestating infant. He sees the little one as a living human being.
Just as the smallest crumb of bread is still bread, so the tiniest child in its mother’s womb is still a life for whom Christ died. If we desire blessings from God, we must view life as He sees it. We cannot harm His little ones. To do so is to relegate ourselves to punishment. In Matthew 18:6 Jesus said that it would be better for a man to have a millstone hung around his neck and drowned than to harm a child.
In Deuteronomy 30:19 it says, “I have set before you life and death—blessing and cursing—therefore, choose life.” We have it within our power to choose one extreme or the other for time and for eternity. Will we follow the Lord’s will or our own? Will we defend life from pre-cradle to the grave or count some lives to be of little consequence? If we count the Bible as truly the unchanging Word of the Living God, we will be staunch advocates of life.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Sunday, August 30, 2009
August 30
God is the Master of time management. He worked for six days and accomplished the creation of all that exists! He arranged the calendar to have seven days and He rested—and admonished us to rest—on the seventh day. By the example He set, we can see that the Lord values the wise usage of time.
In Ephesians 5:14-17 the Word further states, “Awake, you who sleep! Arise from the dead (works of sin) and Christ shall give you light. In that light you will walk wisely, not as fools, redeeming the time because the days are evil. Be not unwise but understanding what the will of the Lord is.”
Here we are told by Paul that God expects us to use the time He has allotted to us to acquire understanding of truth as revealed in the light of Christ and to go beyond the dead works of darkness into the fullness of serving Jesus by shining His light. Paul understood this because he had been zealous to stamp out the new off-shoot of Judaism that claimed Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah.
In His determination to maintain the purity of His faith he led many to their doom. But when he was bathed in the Lord’s blinding light, he became physically blind but spiritually illumined! He here shares with us the importance of seeing Jesus, being awake to His purposes, and serving Him in the beauty of holiness. As our day becomes steeped in the darkness of evil we must shine forth His saving light.
God is the Master of time management. He worked for six days and accomplished the creation of all that exists! He arranged the calendar to have seven days and He rested—and admonished us to rest—on the seventh day. By the example He set, we can see that the Lord values the wise usage of time.
In Ephesians 5:14-17 the Word further states, “Awake, you who sleep! Arise from the dead (works of sin) and Christ shall give you light. In that light you will walk wisely, not as fools, redeeming the time because the days are evil. Be not unwise but understanding what the will of the Lord is.”
Here we are told by Paul that God expects us to use the time He has allotted to us to acquire understanding of truth as revealed in the light of Christ and to go beyond the dead works of darkness into the fullness of serving Jesus by shining His light. Paul understood this because he had been zealous to stamp out the new off-shoot of Judaism that claimed Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah.
In His determination to maintain the purity of His faith he led many to their doom. But when he was bathed in the Lord’s blinding light, he became physically blind but spiritually illumined! He here shares with us the importance of seeing Jesus, being awake to His purposes, and serving Him in the beauty of holiness. As our day becomes steeped in the darkness of evil we must shine forth His saving light.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
August 29
Peter was fully aware of the inner war between the natural man and the spirit man. He had fought this battle and lost at a crucial time in his discipleship. When Jesus was arrested and the young girl accused Peter of being associated with Him, he denied with an oath, “I know not this man of whom you speak!” (Mark 14:71)
This was all the more bitter a disappointment to Peter because Jesus had told him when he declared that he would follow Him anywhere and endure any suffering for Him, that good as his intentions may be, Peter would deny the Lord three times before the rooster crowed the next morning (Mark 14:30).
Because Peter knew the anguish of soul that comes with failure to live up to the high expectations we place upon ourselves, he counseled our spiritual man in the way to gain victory over our natural man. His insight, stated in I Peter 4:1-2, would be well heeded by all who desire to walk uprightly before the Living God.
Here Peter says, “Arm yourselves with the mind of Christ for He suffered in the flesh…and can equip you so you will no longer live after the desires of the natural man but after the will of God.” The One who died for our sin can give our spirit man victory when he battles the natural man over our proclivity to walk in sin!
Peter was fully aware of the inner war between the natural man and the spirit man. He had fought this battle and lost at a crucial time in his discipleship. When Jesus was arrested and the young girl accused Peter of being associated with Him, he denied with an oath, “I know not this man of whom you speak!” (Mark 14:71)
This was all the more bitter a disappointment to Peter because Jesus had told him when he declared that he would follow Him anywhere and endure any suffering for Him, that good as his intentions may be, Peter would deny the Lord three times before the rooster crowed the next morning (Mark 14:30).
Because Peter knew the anguish of soul that comes with failure to live up to the high expectations we place upon ourselves, he counseled our spiritual man in the way to gain victory over our natural man. His insight, stated in I Peter 4:1-2, would be well heeded by all who desire to walk uprightly before the Living God.
Here Peter says, “Arm yourselves with the mind of Christ for He suffered in the flesh…and can equip you so you will no longer live after the desires of the natural man but after the will of God.” The One who died for our sin can give our spirit man victory when he battles the natural man over our proclivity to walk in sin!
Friday, August 28, 2009
August 28
God does not leave us helpless to acquire Christ-like attributes to our character. He desires that we become reflections of His loveliness and He promotes our refining toward that end. We do not always prefer the methods He uses to hone our Christ-likeness, however. Sometimes we actually resist His methods!
Why would we be reluctant to take on the loveliness of Heaven’s pure Lamb? Why would we cling to the base qualities of earth when we can be endued with the lofty attributes of the Lord of Creation? Are we so foolish as to prefer earth’s bonds to Heaven’s wings?
The explanation for our resistance is found in Romans 5:3,4 where it says, “…tribulation develops maturity of character and character allows the love of God to be demonstrated in us by the Holy Ghost.” Although we earnestly desire to be vessels of God’s demonstrated love, we do not wish to experience tribulation!
It is inherent within the natural man to avoid trouble, to resist scorn, to overcome failure, to flee pain. Each of us desires to be perceived as a victor and God’s plan for conforming our character to the Lord’s is often fraught with these things. He’s there to help us defeat them, but first we must confront them with faith!
God does not leave us helpless to acquire Christ-like attributes to our character. He desires that we become reflections of His loveliness and He promotes our refining toward that end. We do not always prefer the methods He uses to hone our Christ-likeness, however. Sometimes we actually resist His methods!
Why would we be reluctant to take on the loveliness of Heaven’s pure Lamb? Why would we cling to the base qualities of earth when we can be endued with the lofty attributes of the Lord of Creation? Are we so foolish as to prefer earth’s bonds to Heaven’s wings?
The explanation for our resistance is found in Romans 5:3,4 where it says, “…tribulation develops maturity of character and character allows the love of God to be demonstrated in us by the Holy Ghost.” Although we earnestly desire to be vessels of God’s demonstrated love, we do not wish to experience tribulation!
It is inherent within the natural man to avoid trouble, to resist scorn, to overcome failure, to flee pain. Each of us desires to be perceived as a victor and God’s plan for conforming our character to the Lord’s is often fraught with these things. He’s there to help us defeat them, but first we must confront them with faith!
Thursday, August 27, 2009
August 27
Jesus has done a perfect work. The moment we accept His gift of redemption we are washed clean, made righteous, and are perfect to stand before a holy God. Without Christ’s work of redemption, we are not perfect to stand before Him, for the Word says that “He is of purer eyes than to behold evil” (Habakkuk 1:13).
There is great comfort in the realization that the gift Jesus gave us is complete and entire. There is nothing required of us beyond our acceptance of the unspeakable gift of Christ Himself. Yet we are given the opportunity to allow Him to work in us and transform us from the creatures of time that we are to the creatures of eternity He has allowed us to become.
For the most part, that opportunity is given to us in order that we might be effectual to His purposes on earth rather than to perfect us for heaven for we know our heavenly perfection will come when we see Him and are transformed into a clearer likeness of Him through truly beholding Him for the first time (I John 3:2). Without actually seeing Him, we are limited in our ability to be like Him. Our earthly service is honed, however, by appropriating II Peter 1:5-8 to ourselves.
Here we are admonished to, “…make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness knowledge; to knowledge self control; to self control perseverance and to perseverance, godliness and kindness and love. For, if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive…for Christ” He desires that we be effective and productive—and that happens only when we take on His own character as the Word here describes. This acquisition requires our surrender and our effort.
Jesus has done a perfect work. The moment we accept His gift of redemption we are washed clean, made righteous, and are perfect to stand before a holy God. Without Christ’s work of redemption, we are not perfect to stand before Him, for the Word says that “He is of purer eyes than to behold evil” (Habakkuk 1:13).
There is great comfort in the realization that the gift Jesus gave us is complete and entire. There is nothing required of us beyond our acceptance of the unspeakable gift of Christ Himself. Yet we are given the opportunity to allow Him to work in us and transform us from the creatures of time that we are to the creatures of eternity He has allowed us to become.
For the most part, that opportunity is given to us in order that we might be effectual to His purposes on earth rather than to perfect us for heaven for we know our heavenly perfection will come when we see Him and are transformed into a clearer likeness of Him through truly beholding Him for the first time (I John 3:2). Without actually seeing Him, we are limited in our ability to be like Him. Our earthly service is honed, however, by appropriating II Peter 1:5-8 to ourselves.
Here we are admonished to, “…make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness knowledge; to knowledge self control; to self control perseverance and to perseverance, godliness and kindness and love. For, if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive…for Christ” He desires that we be effective and productive—and that happens only when we take on His own character as the Word here describes. This acquisition requires our surrender and our effort.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
August 26
Some people are lacking in self confidence. They think they fall short of those who effortlessly project themselves and their point of view into whatever situation in which they may find themselves. They long to be among the number who have compelling, confident personalities that others desire to follow and to emulate.
The confidence they long to have is deceptive, however, for no matter how successfully the envied one projects himself, he still has an inner longing that cannot be satisfied apart from God. In actuality, that is what we all long to have—that sense of well-being that comes from being in the center of God’s perfect will.
How can we achieve that great sense of all sufficiency that only the Lord can supply? How can we step beyond our desire to be confident in ourselves and be confident in Him? Proverbs 3:5, 6 gives us what we need to know about achieving the ultimate sense of confidence. It says…
…”Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” The person who keeps his focus on the Lord rather than on himself, who trusts Him fully, will have every assurance that he is where he should be, doing what he ought to do.
Some people are lacking in self confidence. They think they fall short of those who effortlessly project themselves and their point of view into whatever situation in which they may find themselves. They long to be among the number who have compelling, confident personalities that others desire to follow and to emulate.
The confidence they long to have is deceptive, however, for no matter how successfully the envied one projects himself, he still has an inner longing that cannot be satisfied apart from God. In actuality, that is what we all long to have—that sense of well-being that comes from being in the center of God’s perfect will.
How can we achieve that great sense of all sufficiency that only the Lord can supply? How can we step beyond our desire to be confident in ourselves and be confident in Him? Proverbs 3:5, 6 gives us what we need to know about achieving the ultimate sense of confidence. It says…
…”Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” The person who keeps his focus on the Lord rather than on himself, who trusts Him fully, will have every assurance that he is where he should be, doing what he ought to do.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
August 25
Psalm 119:125 says, “I am your servant; give me understanding that I may know your testimonies.” This is a compelling and profound request. It virtually turns servant-hood on its head. When we think of a servant in the traditional sense of the word, the image of one at the beck and call of another comes forth.
Though we have not perhaps been in the post of a servant, we have been in the position of an employee. We know what it’s like to be given and to receive orders and to endeavor to carry them out well. A servant must be about the business of satisfying the one being served.
In this verse of scripture, however, the psalmist is putting a different spin on his servant roll. He is acknowledging that he has the duty to serve the Lord, but he is desirous of according Him more than mere accommodation. The devoted servant of the Lord is asking for understanding that does not simply enable him to satisfy the desire of the One being served but that embraces the essence of Who He is. We, too, should desire to grasp a full measure of understanding of the testimonies of the Lord.
Such understanding, we are told in Psalm 19:7, “…will make wise the simple.” To extrapolate beyond the yearning of the psalmist to please the Master, is His desire to perfect us through our understanding of Him! We know Him and are blessed beyond servant-hood when we drink in the knowledge of the One we serve. In fact, we become a reflection of Him as we study His Word. Ultimately, we shall be like Jesus when one day we see Him as He is, when our understanding will have been perfected.
Psalm 119:125 says, “I am your servant; give me understanding that I may know your testimonies.” This is a compelling and profound request. It virtually turns servant-hood on its head. When we think of a servant in the traditional sense of the word, the image of one at the beck and call of another comes forth.
Though we have not perhaps been in the post of a servant, we have been in the position of an employee. We know what it’s like to be given and to receive orders and to endeavor to carry them out well. A servant must be about the business of satisfying the one being served.
In this verse of scripture, however, the psalmist is putting a different spin on his servant roll. He is acknowledging that he has the duty to serve the Lord, but he is desirous of according Him more than mere accommodation. The devoted servant of the Lord is asking for understanding that does not simply enable him to satisfy the desire of the One being served but that embraces the essence of Who He is. We, too, should desire to grasp a full measure of understanding of the testimonies of the Lord.
Such understanding, we are told in Psalm 19:7, “…will make wise the simple.” To extrapolate beyond the yearning of the psalmist to please the Master, is His desire to perfect us through our understanding of Him! We know Him and are blessed beyond servant-hood when we drink in the knowledge of the One we serve. In fact, we become a reflection of Him as we study His Word. Ultimately, we shall be like Jesus when one day we see Him as He is, when our understanding will have been perfected.
Monday, August 24, 2009
August 24
The power of the tongue is virtually limitless. With it, revolutions can be started or flames of patriotism can be ignited. With it, spirits can be broken or faith can be deepened. The individual who controls his tongue, according to the Word, is mightier than the one who conquers an army
Proverbs 18:21 tells us that, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” That is an awesome weight of responsibility to bear, for indeed what we say can change circumstances for good or for evil. Must we not endeavor to not only control our tongue but subject our tongue to the control of the Lord!
If we will allow the Holy Spirit to dwell within us and control our minds and our emotions, it will be far easier to allow Him to control our tongue, for certainly the words we speak emanate from our innermost thoughts and feelings. If we allow Jesus to control the totality of our being, our tongue will be as described in Proverbs 15:4, “A gentle tongue (that) is a tree of life.”
This strongly suggests that our tongues can be used to bless or to harm others, but the blessing or the harm of what we say also comes back upon ourselves. In James 3:2we are told that anyone who does not offend in speech becomes fully developed in the complete essence of his being. His spiritually mature character impacts his entire nature for good.
The power of the tongue is virtually limitless. With it, revolutions can be started or flames of patriotism can be ignited. With it, spirits can be broken or faith can be deepened. The individual who controls his tongue, according to the Word, is mightier than the one who conquers an army
Proverbs 18:21 tells us that, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” That is an awesome weight of responsibility to bear, for indeed what we say can change circumstances for good or for evil. Must we not endeavor to not only control our tongue but subject our tongue to the control of the Lord!
If we will allow the Holy Spirit to dwell within us and control our minds and our emotions, it will be far easier to allow Him to control our tongue, for certainly the words we speak emanate from our innermost thoughts and feelings. If we allow Jesus to control the totality of our being, our tongue will be as described in Proverbs 15:4, “A gentle tongue (that) is a tree of life.”
This strongly suggests that our tongues can be used to bless or to harm others, but the blessing or the harm of what we say also comes back upon ourselves. In James 3:2we are told that anyone who does not offend in speech becomes fully developed in the complete essence of his being. His spiritually mature character impacts his entire nature for good.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
August 23
The Almighty One who inhabits eternity may take counsel with Himself and need no other, but you and I aren’t in His league. Some of us might think we are, or it at least appears that we think we are, because we tend to negate the words of the wise when they are interjected into our circumstances.
Because we like to think that we are increased in wisdom and can rightly discern truth, we tend to close ourselves to instruction. We have balked at counsel since childhood. Many of us have never been able to abide the words of wisdom that others could have shared with us if we would have but received.
Our reliance upon our own counsel is completely opposed to the truth of the matter as it is expounded in the Word. Proverbs 1:3 states emphatically, “Receive instruction in wise dealing and the discipline of wise thoughtfulness, righteousness, justice, and integrity.” This brief statement covers virtually every area of human interaction.
In all our dealings—business or personal or spiritual—we are to receive counsel. We are to maintain a thoughtful attitude that covers wisdom, rightness, justice, personal honor--and that can best be done when we take counsel with those whose wisdom is irrefutable. To merely take counsel with ourselves is to relegate our thinking to the category of the selfish and unwise.
The Almighty One who inhabits eternity may take counsel with Himself and need no other, but you and I aren’t in His league. Some of us might think we are, or it at least appears that we think we are, because we tend to negate the words of the wise when they are interjected into our circumstances.
Because we like to think that we are increased in wisdom and can rightly discern truth, we tend to close ourselves to instruction. We have balked at counsel since childhood. Many of us have never been able to abide the words of wisdom that others could have shared with us if we would have but received.
Our reliance upon our own counsel is completely opposed to the truth of the matter as it is expounded in the Word. Proverbs 1:3 states emphatically, “Receive instruction in wise dealing and the discipline of wise thoughtfulness, righteousness, justice, and integrity.” This brief statement covers virtually every area of human interaction.
In all our dealings—business or personal or spiritual—we are to receive counsel. We are to maintain a thoughtful attitude that covers wisdom, rightness, justice, personal honor--and that can best be done when we take counsel with those whose wisdom is irrefutable. To merely take counsel with ourselves is to relegate our thinking to the category of the selfish and unwise.
Saturday, August 22, 2009
August 22
Besides receiving correction graciously from other people, the Lord does desire that we be tuned in to Him so His Holy Spirit can speak to us directly about those attitudes within us that require adjustment. I Corinthians 5:7 states that we are to, “Purge the old leaven…” from our lives. The scripture uses ‘leaven’ as an analogy for sin. We must purge, rid ourselves, of sin.
Jesus is very emphatic about the necessity that each individual take the initiative where his inner cleansing is concerned. In Matthew 5:29, 30, He tells us that if our eye is offensive we should pluck it out and if our hand is offensive, we should cut it off.
He did not intend these admonitions to be executed literally, but He was emphasizing the great importance that each of us deal with the sin that besets us. We know that we cannot indulge a sinful proclivity and still hope for eternity in His Kingdom. Although the work of salvation has been fully accomplished by Jesus’ shedding of His blood to wash us free from sin, we know that we cannot continue in sin.
It behooves each of us to allow Him to first do His cleansing work that delivers us from bondage to sin, and then to allow Him to use others to speak to us, to allow the Word to minister to us and to allow His Holy Spirit to speak to our spirit regarding the continual purging of sin from our lives. If we don’t submit to the purging of the leaven, it will greatly increase our acceptance of sin.
Besides receiving correction graciously from other people, the Lord does desire that we be tuned in to Him so His Holy Spirit can speak to us directly about those attitudes within us that require adjustment. I Corinthians 5:7 states that we are to, “Purge the old leaven…” from our lives. The scripture uses ‘leaven’ as an analogy for sin. We must purge, rid ourselves, of sin.
Jesus is very emphatic about the necessity that each individual take the initiative where his inner cleansing is concerned. In Matthew 5:29, 30, He tells us that if our eye is offensive we should pluck it out and if our hand is offensive, we should cut it off.
He did not intend these admonitions to be executed literally, but He was emphasizing the great importance that each of us deal with the sin that besets us. We know that we cannot indulge a sinful proclivity and still hope for eternity in His Kingdom. Although the work of salvation has been fully accomplished by Jesus’ shedding of His blood to wash us free from sin, we know that we cannot continue in sin.
It behooves each of us to allow Him to first do His cleansing work that delivers us from bondage to sin, and then to allow Him to use others to speak to us, to allow the Word to minister to us and to allow His Holy Spirit to speak to our spirit regarding the continual purging of sin from our lives. If we don’t submit to the purging of the leaven, it will greatly increase our acceptance of sin.
Friday, August 21, 2009
August 21
Proverbs 3:12 says, “Whom the Lord loves He corrects.” Again in Proverbs 10:17 we are told, “He who heeds instruction is in the way of life and is a way of life for others.” These are essential truths regarding instruction that we are often reluctant to accept.
The reality is that many, perhaps most—OK all of us—balk at times against correction. It goes contrary to the grain of our nature to submit graciously when we are being told we’re off base. We might say that it isn’t God who we’re resisting, we merely dislike it when other people confront us with the suggestion that we have room for improvement.
But the reality is that God isn’t likely to sit by our bed one morning and give us a list of suggested improvements we might make to our attitude or our actions or our conversations for the day. The probability is that He will try to connect with us in one of two other ways.
If we are diligent to read His Word, if our busy schedules allow us to read and drink in His Word, He clearly speaks to matters of the heart and mind and spirit there. He also allows the people around us to address our foibles. If we are surrendered to His Holy Spirit, we will accept correction from these sources.
Proverbs 3:12 says, “Whom the Lord loves He corrects.” Again in Proverbs 10:17 we are told, “He who heeds instruction is in the way of life and is a way of life for others.” These are essential truths regarding instruction that we are often reluctant to accept.
The reality is that many, perhaps most—OK all of us—balk at times against correction. It goes contrary to the grain of our nature to submit graciously when we are being told we’re off base. We might say that it isn’t God who we’re resisting, we merely dislike it when other people confront us with the suggestion that we have room for improvement.
But the reality is that God isn’t likely to sit by our bed one morning and give us a list of suggested improvements we might make to our attitude or our actions or our conversations for the day. The probability is that He will try to connect with us in one of two other ways.
If we are diligent to read His Word, if our busy schedules allow us to read and drink in His Word, He clearly speaks to matters of the heart and mind and spirit there. He also allows the people around us to address our foibles. If we are surrendered to His Holy Spirit, we will accept correction from these sources.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
August 20
We allow our minds to wander. Even when we’re at work and required to be focused, we often find our minds running through the maze of thoughts, worries, hopes, plans and schemes we have ‘percolating’ in our heads. Our mental gymnastics would benefit us greatly were it possible to account them to our physical exercise regimen!
Why do we entertain so many diverse thoughts? Why can we not relax from our contemplations even when we lie upon our beds at night? Why do we toss and turn, trying to find the ‘right’ position while reflecting upon the events of our day and our plans for tomorrow?
The Bible offers an answer to these questions in Isaiah 26:3. It says, “You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” Whether we realize it or not, much of our anxiety springs from the fact that we bear the load of responsibility for our lives rather than trusting the Lord to assume it. We take upon our own shoulders the cares He has offered to bear.
We race around in circles in our thoughts, trying to find one that affords us a modicum of peace--a comfortable place to rest. We chase ideas that might enable us to achieve that measure of success that has always been just beyond our grasp. But if we would simply trust Jesus in all life’s circumstances, the resultant peace He’d provide would allow our mental gymnastics to stop.
We allow our minds to wander. Even when we’re at work and required to be focused, we often find our minds running through the maze of thoughts, worries, hopes, plans and schemes we have ‘percolating’ in our heads. Our mental gymnastics would benefit us greatly were it possible to account them to our physical exercise regimen!
Why do we entertain so many diverse thoughts? Why can we not relax from our contemplations even when we lie upon our beds at night? Why do we toss and turn, trying to find the ‘right’ position while reflecting upon the events of our day and our plans for tomorrow?
The Bible offers an answer to these questions in Isaiah 26:3. It says, “You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” Whether we realize it or not, much of our anxiety springs from the fact that we bear the load of responsibility for our lives rather than trusting the Lord to assume it. We take upon our own shoulders the cares He has offered to bear.
We race around in circles in our thoughts, trying to find one that affords us a modicum of peace--a comfortable place to rest. We chase ideas that might enable us to achieve that measure of success that has always been just beyond our grasp. But if we would simply trust Jesus in all life’s circumstances, the resultant peace He’d provide would allow our mental gymnastics to stop.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
August 19
The flip sides of the same coin can be summed up in the phrase, ‘’Work—our drudgery and our reward,’’ regarding the tasks to which we are called to labor on a daily basis. Whether we are doctors or engineers or teachers or house wives, we have something viable to do each time the sun rises in the morning.
Some of us take delight in our work. We thrive on each plateau of success we attain. We enjoy helping others as doctors—restoring people to health when they have been harmed by disease or disorder; as teachers—helping young people to reach for their loftiest academic success; as engineers—building something new to benefit mankind.
Whatever our line of work may be, even if it is insignificant in the eyes of the world, we are admonished by Jesus Himself to, make “…My food to do the will of Him who sent Me and to completely finish His work” (John 4:34). Jesus’ work was to fulfill the will of the Father. That, in our busy world of laboring to excel at our work, is the only essential task for us, too.
Whatever our profession or calling may be, if we are not performing it with the Lord’s end in mind, we are wasting our time. If we aren’t endeavoring to lift up His name by our effort, no matter what accolades men may bestow upon us, we are laboring in vain, for it is only the voice of God we desire ultimately to hear—affirming that we have done well.
The flip sides of the same coin can be summed up in the phrase, ‘’Work—our drudgery and our reward,’’ regarding the tasks to which we are called to labor on a daily basis. Whether we are doctors or engineers or teachers or house wives, we have something viable to do each time the sun rises in the morning.
Some of us take delight in our work. We thrive on each plateau of success we attain. We enjoy helping others as doctors—restoring people to health when they have been harmed by disease or disorder; as teachers—helping young people to reach for their loftiest academic success; as engineers—building something new to benefit mankind.
Whatever our line of work may be, even if it is insignificant in the eyes of the world, we are admonished by Jesus Himself to, make “…My food to do the will of Him who sent Me and to completely finish His work” (John 4:34). Jesus’ work was to fulfill the will of the Father. That, in our busy world of laboring to excel at our work, is the only essential task for us, too.
Whatever our profession or calling may be, if we are not performing it with the Lord’s end in mind, we are wasting our time. If we aren’t endeavoring to lift up His name by our effort, no matter what accolades men may bestow upon us, we are laboring in vain, for it is only the voice of God we desire ultimately to hear—affirming that we have done well.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
August 18
Never give up! Never! Do not allow yourself to be dissuaded from anything the Lord has set before you to perform in the behalf of His Kingdom or to accomplish for yourself—in the inner man or in the outer man. Be steadfast and fully committed to the will and the way of Christ in every aspect of your being.
Life tends to wear you down. It’s rather like the game of football. The winning team sometimes needs to put in its second or third string to restrain itself from racking up an inordinately imbalanced score against its opponent while the team that is in the process of losing a game by a significant margin can hardly be faulted for slacking off in its effort to eek out a less embarrassing score.
When things are going well, you are on a roll and success seems to follow success with little effort on your part. If, however, you are beset by setbacks, if you encounter disappointment along your path, your tendency is to become slack in your effort. Why try when all is lost no matter what you do? This besetting question has no good answer. But the Bible never asks that question.
Instead, in Hebrews 6:11 you are encouraged to espouse another point of view! It says, “Earnestly desire to show the same diligence to the end, realizing that you will ultimately realize your hope.” When you have set your hope in Christ and you have faith in His unfailing word, you will be energized to be steadfast in life’s challenges, persuaded they will lead to your total victory!
Never give up! Never! Do not allow yourself to be dissuaded from anything the Lord has set before you to perform in the behalf of His Kingdom or to accomplish for yourself—in the inner man or in the outer man. Be steadfast and fully committed to the will and the way of Christ in every aspect of your being.
Life tends to wear you down. It’s rather like the game of football. The winning team sometimes needs to put in its second or third string to restrain itself from racking up an inordinately imbalanced score against its opponent while the team that is in the process of losing a game by a significant margin can hardly be faulted for slacking off in its effort to eek out a less embarrassing score.
When things are going well, you are on a roll and success seems to follow success with little effort on your part. If, however, you are beset by setbacks, if you encounter disappointment along your path, your tendency is to become slack in your effort. Why try when all is lost no matter what you do? This besetting question has no good answer. But the Bible never asks that question.
Instead, in Hebrews 6:11 you are encouraged to espouse another point of view! It says, “Earnestly desire to show the same diligence to the end, realizing that you will ultimately realize your hope.” When you have set your hope in Christ and you have faith in His unfailing word, you will be energized to be steadfast in life’s challenges, persuaded they will lead to your total victory!
Monday, August 17, 2009
August 17
What manner of men ought we to be? Paul suggested that it behooves us as believers to be “…all things to all men that we might by all means save some” (I Corinthians 9:22). We must take into account the mindset and personality of the person to whom we’re witnessing our faith in Christ when we share the gospel with him.
We would not, for example, declare the truth of the Word as strongly to a believer in the religion of Islam as we would to one who professed a form of Christianity but had not yet accepted Christ as his Savior. Why would we temper the truth for one yet declare it boldly to the other? Would that ‘rule of thumb’ hold true for every Moslem and for every Christian to whom we were led with the good news?
The answer to the first, ‘Why?’ is that many truths of Christianity are offensive to Moslems and wisdom must be exercised in sharing them or the individual to whom we are witnessing might be totally turned off. Professing Christians, on the other hand, know the tenets of the Christian faith and should be more receptive to hearing even the hard sayings than one who has no background in the truths of the Lord. How do we know when and to whom we should boldly proclaim the message of salvation and when and to whom we should temper it?
In Galatians 5:25 we are told that, “If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. If by the Holy Spirit we have our life in God, we will go forward controlled by the Spirit.” Realistically, we cannot know the hearts of men—whether they are receptive or not receptive to truth. The religion they profess does not necessarily dictate their mindset. But the Holy Spirit knows the heart of every man, and He will lead us in our endeavor to share the great commission with wisdom and compassion and love when we have opportunity to do so.
What manner of men ought we to be? Paul suggested that it behooves us as believers to be “…all things to all men that we might by all means save some” (I Corinthians 9:22). We must take into account the mindset and personality of the person to whom we’re witnessing our faith in Christ when we share the gospel with him.
We would not, for example, declare the truth of the Word as strongly to a believer in the religion of Islam as we would to one who professed a form of Christianity but had not yet accepted Christ as his Savior. Why would we temper the truth for one yet declare it boldly to the other? Would that ‘rule of thumb’ hold true for every Moslem and for every Christian to whom we were led with the good news?
The answer to the first, ‘Why?’ is that many truths of Christianity are offensive to Moslems and wisdom must be exercised in sharing them or the individual to whom we are witnessing might be totally turned off. Professing Christians, on the other hand, know the tenets of the Christian faith and should be more receptive to hearing even the hard sayings than one who has no background in the truths of the Lord. How do we know when and to whom we should boldly proclaim the message of salvation and when and to whom we should temper it?
In Galatians 5:25 we are told that, “If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. If by the Holy Spirit we have our life in God, we will go forward controlled by the Spirit.” Realistically, we cannot know the hearts of men—whether they are receptive or not receptive to truth. The religion they profess does not necessarily dictate their mindset. But the Holy Spirit knows the heart of every man, and He will lead us in our endeavor to share the great commission with wisdom and compassion and love when we have opportunity to do so.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
August 16
There is certainly great advantage to be had in attaining worldly success. No one will deny that though the struggles of life befall the lofty and the lowly, those who possess worldly resources are better able to manage the challenges we face universally.
But there is something that serves the lofty and the lowly far more than the trappings of a well-managed life. In Proverbs 3:13, 14 we are reminded that, “Blessed is the man who finds godly wisdom, who gets understanding; for the gaining of it is better than the gaining of silver and the profit of it is better than fine gold.”
There is an old adage that states an undeniable truth—the good is enemy of the best. Those who have the niceties of life, those who dwell in comfort and ease, those whose achievements have secured their hearts’ desires for the present and the future are often the ones who cannot see their need for the Lord and the great gift He has secured for them.
But whatever a man’s station in life may be, if he can recognize the truth that godly wisdom is a far greater treasure than any earthly gain, he will have realized the one thing that assures the transcendence of his wealth beyond the fleeting moment of time he spends on earth! His wealth will be invested for him in heaven where it will bless him eternally.
There is certainly great advantage to be had in attaining worldly success. No one will deny that though the struggles of life befall the lofty and the lowly, those who possess worldly resources are better able to manage the challenges we face universally.
But there is something that serves the lofty and the lowly far more than the trappings of a well-managed life. In Proverbs 3:13, 14 we are reminded that, “Blessed is the man who finds godly wisdom, who gets understanding; for the gaining of it is better than the gaining of silver and the profit of it is better than fine gold.”
There is an old adage that states an undeniable truth—the good is enemy of the best. Those who have the niceties of life, those who dwell in comfort and ease, those whose achievements have secured their hearts’ desires for the present and the future are often the ones who cannot see their need for the Lord and the great gift He has secured for them.
But whatever a man’s station in life may be, if he can recognize the truth that godly wisdom is a far greater treasure than any earthly gain, he will have realized the one thing that assures the transcendence of his wealth beyond the fleeting moment of time he spends on earth! His wealth will be invested for him in heaven where it will bless him eternally.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
August 15
Excellence. As a people, we once aspired to it and we once achieved it. The entirety of our society functioned on that ‘can-do’ spirit that defined America. Our children were nurtured in truth—not just the truth of facts and knowledge but in the Truth of the ages—in the Truth that is Jesus.
From that unshakable foundation, anchored in spiritual life, the greatest society that has ever existed was birthed and grew—“in wisdom, in stature and in favor with God and man,” even as the Word proclaims (Luke 2:52). That excellence produced the greatest advances in science and medicine and technology that the world has ever seen.
All mankind has been advantaged by the fact that the United States of America tapped into and reaped the benefit of knowing Christ. In Proverbs 22:29, we are invited to check it out for ourselves. It says, “Do you see a man diligent and skillful in his business? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men.” There is no mean end to the person who grounds himself in the Lord.
Our people have risen to great heights of accomplishment because of the investment of ourselves—first of all into Jesus, who is Truth and then into the pursuit of the knowledge that is achieved by having "the mind of Christ.” If we are to return to our former greatness, we must return to the One who made us great. No man, no nation can be truly great apart from Him. Man’s best is temporal; Jesus is eternally excellent.
Excellence. As a people, we once aspired to it and we once achieved it. The entirety of our society functioned on that ‘can-do’ spirit that defined America. Our children were nurtured in truth—not just the truth of facts and knowledge but in the Truth of the ages—in the Truth that is Jesus.
From that unshakable foundation, anchored in spiritual life, the greatest society that has ever existed was birthed and grew—“in wisdom, in stature and in favor with God and man,” even as the Word proclaims (Luke 2:52). That excellence produced the greatest advances in science and medicine and technology that the world has ever seen.
All mankind has been advantaged by the fact that the United States of America tapped into and reaped the benefit of knowing Christ. In Proverbs 22:29, we are invited to check it out for ourselves. It says, “Do you see a man diligent and skillful in his business? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men.” There is no mean end to the person who grounds himself in the Lord.
Our people have risen to great heights of accomplishment because of the investment of ourselves—first of all into Jesus, who is Truth and then into the pursuit of the knowledge that is achieved by having "the mind of Christ.” If we are to return to our former greatness, we must return to the One who made us great. No man, no nation can be truly great apart from Him. Man’s best is temporal; Jesus is eternally excellent.
Friday, August 14, 2009
August 14
In Biblical days a city had to be walled. It was a literal fortress against marauders. A city was a self-contained microcosm of the world at large. Everything one needed in order to function was contained within its walls. The city governed itself and provided for itself and protected itself.
It sent forth traders to buy and exchange goods that were necessary for its inhabitants. It had emissaries who negotiated with other powerful entities. As long as the city remained fortified and self-sufficient behind its walls, it could ward off enemies from without.
But if it neglected its walls, if its fortification became compromised, it was vulnerable to attack. It would be overtaken by an enemy. Pillage and rape of the city and its inhabitants would follow. In Proverbs 15;28, The Bible likens a man to a walled city. If the walls are strong and uncompromised, the man stands.
But, it says, “He who has no rule over his own spirit is like a ruined city without walls.” Whatever a man indulges of the negative aspects of his character is what will ultimately destroy him. If a man neglects to fortify himself with the Word and the law of God, he will crumble and fall under the weight of his own sin.
In Biblical days a city had to be walled. It was a literal fortress against marauders. A city was a self-contained microcosm of the world at large. Everything one needed in order to function was contained within its walls. The city governed itself and provided for itself and protected itself.
It sent forth traders to buy and exchange goods that were necessary for its inhabitants. It had emissaries who negotiated with other powerful entities. As long as the city remained fortified and self-sufficient behind its walls, it could ward off enemies from without.
But if it neglected its walls, if its fortification became compromised, it was vulnerable to attack. It would be overtaken by an enemy. Pillage and rape of the city and its inhabitants would follow. In Proverbs 15;28, The Bible likens a man to a walled city. If the walls are strong and uncompromised, the man stands.
But, it says, “He who has no rule over his own spirit is like a ruined city without walls.” Whatever a man indulges of the negative aspects of his character is what will ultimately destroy him. If a man neglects to fortify himself with the Word and the law of God, he will crumble and fall under the weight of his own sin.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
August 13
The Psalmist in Psalm 119:33-40 states the heart’s cry of every believer: “Teach me, O lord, the way of your law…give me understanding…make me to go in the path of Your commandments…incline my heart to Your testimonies…turn away my eyes from vanity…quicken me in Your way…establish Your Word in me …quicken me in your righteousness.”
He is expressing lofty aspirations. It is his earnest yearning to be taught the law of the Lord, to understand it, to walk in it. He knows the Lord is altogether righteous and holy and worthy of all praise. He knows the testimonies of the God of Heaven are sure and all man’s ways are vanity.
And he confesses his utter helplessness to follow his own heart into the fullness of God’s truth apart from God Himself. We can imagine that he has tried and he has failed to be true to his love for the Lord, to be true to his own resolution to follow closely after Him. We needn’t imagine, for we are like him.
We, too, must recognize the futility of our own best effort to be the person the Lord desires us to be, the person who learns of Christ, who understands and follows Him, whose heart is ever toward Him. We know that we, too, if we are to keep our eyes on Him, must have His help. He’s promised to give it.
The Psalmist in Psalm 119:33-40 states the heart’s cry of every believer: “Teach me, O lord, the way of your law…give me understanding…make me to go in the path of Your commandments…incline my heart to Your testimonies…turn away my eyes from vanity…quicken me in Your way…establish Your Word in me …quicken me in your righteousness.”
He is expressing lofty aspirations. It is his earnest yearning to be taught the law of the Lord, to understand it, to walk in it. He knows the Lord is altogether righteous and holy and worthy of all praise. He knows the testimonies of the God of Heaven are sure and all man’s ways are vanity.
And he confesses his utter helplessness to follow his own heart into the fullness of God’s truth apart from God Himself. We can imagine that he has tried and he has failed to be true to his love for the Lord, to be true to his own resolution to follow closely after Him. We needn’t imagine, for we are like him.
We, too, must recognize the futility of our own best effort to be the person the Lord desires us to be, the person who learns of Christ, who understands and follows Him, whose heart is ever toward Him. We know that we, too, if we are to keep our eyes on Him, must have His help. He’s promised to give it.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
August 12
One of the signs of maturity is that we no longer pursue every desire that crosses our mind. Whether it is restraint in interpersonal relationships or in using a credit card, we evidence our ability to be responsible by deferring gratification or by denying ourselves gratification altogether.
This evidence of maturity can be recognized in the spiritual realm, too. When we are newly born again, we discover zeal within ourselves to ‘set the world on fire for Jesus.’ We want everyone to know we’ve found Him and we want them to find Him. We volunteer for every church program and we contribute to every ministry that touches our lives.
Though these are worthy, they are not necessarily God’s will. In Ecclesiastes 5:1 we are admonished, “Keep your foot when you go to the house of God. To draw near to hear and obey is better than to give the sacrifice of fools.” The Lord is telling us here that we must listen for His voice when we are charting the course of our labor in His harvest field.
If we hear Him and then obey Him, we won’t spin our wheels in the behalf of the Kingdom. Instead, we will do purposeful work in response to the instruction of the One who best knows how to employ our skills toward His purposes. If we squander our time and energy foolishly, we will accomplish only the draining of our desire to serve Him.
One of the signs of maturity is that we no longer pursue every desire that crosses our mind. Whether it is restraint in interpersonal relationships or in using a credit card, we evidence our ability to be responsible by deferring gratification or by denying ourselves gratification altogether.
This evidence of maturity can be recognized in the spiritual realm, too. When we are newly born again, we discover zeal within ourselves to ‘set the world on fire for Jesus.’ We want everyone to know we’ve found Him and we want them to find Him. We volunteer for every church program and we contribute to every ministry that touches our lives.
Though these are worthy, they are not necessarily God’s will. In Ecclesiastes 5:1 we are admonished, “Keep your foot when you go to the house of God. To draw near to hear and obey is better than to give the sacrifice of fools.” The Lord is telling us here that we must listen for His voice when we are charting the course of our labor in His harvest field.
If we hear Him and then obey Him, we won’t spin our wheels in the behalf of the Kingdom. Instead, we will do purposeful work in response to the instruction of the One who best knows how to employ our skills toward His purposes. If we squander our time and energy foolishly, we will accomplish only the draining of our desire to serve Him.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
August 11
One of the most debilitating emotions is fear of failure. Those who are stricken by this spiritual malady have negated the Lord’s wonderful assertion in I John 4:18 that “…perfect love casts out fear.” When we allow fear to govern our expectation of ourselves, we have relegated ourselves to accomplishing far less than the Lord in His perfect love intends for us to do and to be.
When we assess our abilities, we must be realistic. We are not all going to be brain surgeons, nor can we all become great artists or musicians or mathematicians or salespeople. We need to know our strengths and know our weaknesses. By assessing them objectively, we are able to know what goals are viable for us to pursue.
Even Jesus said, “I am able to do nothing of Myself; only as I am taught of My Father am I able to work” (John 5:30). Certainly, the One who spoke the universe into being was not negating His ability to do anything He chose to do. Certainly the One who said He could lay down His life and take it up again (John 10:18) could not be thwarted in any task He set for Himself.
No. But He did restrict Himself on what He was able to do in that He oriented all that He did around the will of His Father. We, when we have assessed our gifts from the Father, will be able to use those gifts to glorify His name! We need not fear failure when we are doing all that our hand finds to do, “with all our strength” (Ecclesiastes 9:10) as our Father gifted us to do.
One of the most debilitating emotions is fear of failure. Those who are stricken by this spiritual malady have negated the Lord’s wonderful assertion in I John 4:18 that “…perfect love casts out fear.” When we allow fear to govern our expectation of ourselves, we have relegated ourselves to accomplishing far less than the Lord in His perfect love intends for us to do and to be.
When we assess our abilities, we must be realistic. We are not all going to be brain surgeons, nor can we all become great artists or musicians or mathematicians or salespeople. We need to know our strengths and know our weaknesses. By assessing them objectively, we are able to know what goals are viable for us to pursue.
Even Jesus said, “I am able to do nothing of Myself; only as I am taught of My Father am I able to work” (John 5:30). Certainly, the One who spoke the universe into being was not negating His ability to do anything He chose to do. Certainly the One who said He could lay down His life and take it up again (John 10:18) could not be thwarted in any task He set for Himself.
No. But He did restrict Himself on what He was able to do in that He oriented all that He did around the will of His Father. We, when we have assessed our gifts from the Father, will be able to use those gifts to glorify His name! We need not fear failure when we are doing all that our hand finds to do, “with all our strength” (Ecclesiastes 9:10) as our Father gifted us to do.
Monday, August 10, 2009
August 10
Life is a contest whose participants are you and you. More specifically, it is a contest between the ‘old you,’ the natural man who cared for nothing but himself and the ‘new you,’ the born again man who is a reflection of the Christ who now dwells within.
The Apostle Paul explains the rules of the game clearly, and the aspect of yourself that best complies with them will be the winner. The Roman world was not unfamiliar with athletic contests. The extreme shows of physical prowess carried on in the Coliseum are well known yet today.
Paul tells us that we, like the gladiators in the Coliseum, must be prepared for the fray. Just how do we prepare? As he did. In I Corinthians 9:27 he says, “Like a boxer I buffet my spirit and subdue it (make sure I am in excellent spiritual shape) so it won’t be said of me that after I had proclaimed the Gospel to others, I myself became a castaway.”
Why must such rigor be applied to our walk with Christ? As Paul says, it is so we won’t become so focused on sharing the good news of salvation with others that we forget it ourselves. He cautions in I Corinthians 9:23-26 that our goal is to, “Run the race so that you may lay hold of the prize.” He doesn’t want the new, born again you to be a loser.
Life is a contest whose participants are you and you. More specifically, it is a contest between the ‘old you,’ the natural man who cared for nothing but himself and the ‘new you,’ the born again man who is a reflection of the Christ who now dwells within.
The Apostle Paul explains the rules of the game clearly, and the aspect of yourself that best complies with them will be the winner. The Roman world was not unfamiliar with athletic contests. The extreme shows of physical prowess carried on in the Coliseum are well known yet today.
Paul tells us that we, like the gladiators in the Coliseum, must be prepared for the fray. Just how do we prepare? As he did. In I Corinthians 9:27 he says, “Like a boxer I buffet my spirit and subdue it (make sure I am in excellent spiritual shape) so it won’t be said of me that after I had proclaimed the Gospel to others, I myself became a castaway.”
Why must such rigor be applied to our walk with Christ? As Paul says, it is so we won’t become so focused on sharing the good news of salvation with others that we forget it ourselves. He cautions in I Corinthians 9:23-26 that our goal is to, “Run the race so that you may lay hold of the prize.” He doesn’t want the new, born again you to be a loser.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
August 9
Jesus didn’t ‘sneak up on us.’ God incarnate did not enter the world He had created without giving specific insight into His purpose for coming. The scarlet thread of the good news of Jesus Christ, come in the flesh, crucified, and resurrected begins in the first pages of the Holy Scriptures and continues throughout. The Bible is a revelation of Christ and the power of His name.
Oh, yes, it is a history book and it is a literature anthology and it is a general ‘how-to’ of living life, but the focus of the entirety of its vast scope and depth is to apprise mankind of the One hope we have in a hopeless world, of the One salvation we have in a world that’s careening toward its destruction.
In Luke 4:18, Jesus declares, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me because He has anointed Me to preach the good news to the poor; He has sent me to announce the release of the captives and the recovery of sight to the blind; I am come to speak deliverance to those who are oppressed.” Who are the poor, but those devoid of the knowledge of salvation? Who are the blind, but those who cannot see truth? Who are the captives, but those who are bound by sin?
The Lord didn’t want there to be any confusion in the matter. When He declared in Genesis 3:15 that the Seed of the woman would crush the head of the serpent, this is exactly what He meant. He was assuring Adam and Eve and their progeny that the sin and heartache they had unleashed on the world would be totally overcome by Christ! Jesus was assuring fallen man that there is nothing of evil that will not yield to the power of His mighty, matchless name!
Jesus didn’t ‘sneak up on us.’ God incarnate did not enter the world He had created without giving specific insight into His purpose for coming. The scarlet thread of the good news of Jesus Christ, come in the flesh, crucified, and resurrected begins in the first pages of the Holy Scriptures and continues throughout. The Bible is a revelation of Christ and the power of His name.
Oh, yes, it is a history book and it is a literature anthology and it is a general ‘how-to’ of living life, but the focus of the entirety of its vast scope and depth is to apprise mankind of the One hope we have in a hopeless world, of the One salvation we have in a world that’s careening toward its destruction.
In Luke 4:18, Jesus declares, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me because He has anointed Me to preach the good news to the poor; He has sent me to announce the release of the captives and the recovery of sight to the blind; I am come to speak deliverance to those who are oppressed.” Who are the poor, but those devoid of the knowledge of salvation? Who are the blind, but those who cannot see truth? Who are the captives, but those who are bound by sin?
The Lord didn’t want there to be any confusion in the matter. When He declared in Genesis 3:15 that the Seed of the woman would crush the head of the serpent, this is exactly what He meant. He was assuring Adam and Eve and their progeny that the sin and heartache they had unleashed on the world would be totally overcome by Christ! Jesus was assuring fallen man that there is nothing of evil that will not yield to the power of His mighty, matchless name!
Saturday, August 8, 2009
August 8
If we are among those who think God wound up the universe and then left it to itself, we are mistaken. How do we know? Because He said so. In Luke 12:37, Jesus Himself says, “Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake and watching when he comes. I say to you that the master will gird himself and serve those faithful ones.”
It was unheard of in Jesus’ day that a master would condescend to wait upon those whose duty it was to serve him. These people were literally slaves—what wealthy slave owner would actually prepare a table for people who were his possession and treat them as honored guests!
Here the Lord is telling us He is that Master. Though we are Christ’s (for we are bought with the great price of His own shed blood), though the price He paid for us entitles Him to ownership of us, yet He wants us to know that He does not regard us as slaves and hirelings. He is watching over us in order to reward us for our faithfulness to Him.
What an amazing thought! The One who spoke creation into being, who ordered the planets in their course, who designed the inner intricacy of every organism is always watching those who have placed their lives at His feet so He may reward their faithfulness! We have been given His unspeakable Gift, and He wants to serve us His delights day by day--how could we consider this to be the heart of an impersonal God!
If we are among those who think God wound up the universe and then left it to itself, we are mistaken. How do we know? Because He said so. In Luke 12:37, Jesus Himself says, “Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake and watching when he comes. I say to you that the master will gird himself and serve those faithful ones.”
It was unheard of in Jesus’ day that a master would condescend to wait upon those whose duty it was to serve him. These people were literally slaves—what wealthy slave owner would actually prepare a table for people who were his possession and treat them as honored guests!
Here the Lord is telling us He is that Master. Though we are Christ’s (for we are bought with the great price of His own shed blood), though the price He paid for us entitles Him to ownership of us, yet He wants us to know that He does not regard us as slaves and hirelings. He is watching over us in order to reward us for our faithfulness to Him.
What an amazing thought! The One who spoke creation into being, who ordered the planets in their course, who designed the inner intricacy of every organism is always watching those who have placed their lives at His feet so He may reward their faithfulness! We have been given His unspeakable Gift, and He wants to serve us His delights day by day--how could we consider this to be the heart of an impersonal God!
Friday, August 7, 2009
August 7
People throughout all time and in all places have been well-acquainted with sin. Our day is no exception, yet there is a progression toward coarsening, there is an acceptance of wickedness now that has been unprecedented. The title of Robert Bork’s book, Slouching to Gomorra paints the picture—we are leaning into sin.
There was a time when moral people stood tall against unrighteousness, but we have become so inured to it that we, like sailboats on the sea, are caught in the drift that is propelled by the wind. Because we are not alert and we don’t maintain constant vigilance over our course, we will find ourselves at a destination far from where we intend to go.
As always, God’s wisdom has guidance for the circumstance in which we find ourselves. In Proverbs 4:25-27 we are told to, “Let your eyes look with purpose and let your gaze be straight before you that you may consider well the path for your feet. Let all your ways be established aright…remove your foot from evil.” There is action required of us if we are to avert evil!
It is essential that we assess our path. We have to know where we’re going rather than blindly follow the crowd or let the evil wind carry us. We have to consider the consequence of the choices we make. We will become part of what we enter—rather like the raindrop that becomes part of the sea. If we don’t want to blend into the evil around us, we must require our feet to turn from it!
People throughout all time and in all places have been well-acquainted with sin. Our day is no exception, yet there is a progression toward coarsening, there is an acceptance of wickedness now that has been unprecedented. The title of Robert Bork’s book, Slouching to Gomorra paints the picture—we are leaning into sin.
There was a time when moral people stood tall against unrighteousness, but we have become so inured to it that we, like sailboats on the sea, are caught in the drift that is propelled by the wind. Because we are not alert and we don’t maintain constant vigilance over our course, we will find ourselves at a destination far from where we intend to go.
As always, God’s wisdom has guidance for the circumstance in which we find ourselves. In Proverbs 4:25-27 we are told to, “Let your eyes look with purpose and let your gaze be straight before you that you may consider well the path for your feet. Let all your ways be established aright…remove your foot from evil.” There is action required of us if we are to avert evil!
It is essential that we assess our path. We have to know where we’re going rather than blindly follow the crowd or let the evil wind carry us. We have to consider the consequence of the choices we make. We will become part of what we enter—rather like the raindrop that becomes part of the sea. If we don’t want to blend into the evil around us, we must require our feet to turn from it!
Thursday, August 6, 2009
August 6
Life will challenge us on every side—and the more so if we are determined to serve the Lord. The enemy of our soul is unlikely to interfere with our plans and schemes if they involve only our temporal desires. Because he is the god of this world, it serves his purpose to divert us from heavenly goals by rewarding our preoccupation with temporary, earthly acquisitions.
But if we set aside the worldly things that moth and rust corrupt in order to pursue the treasures of Heaven for ourselves—and to endeavor to share them with others—we will meet with his unrelenting opposition. The evil one will taunt us for our foolish waste of time. Often those taunts will be spoken through people whose respect we prefer to have.
The Lord who sees the end from the beginning has a word of encouragement for those who endure the slings and arrows of the enemy as they follow Jesus, as they try to serve the purposes of His Kingdom. In I Corinthians 15:58 it says, “My beloved brothers, be steadfast and abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor in His behalf is not in vain.”
In those moments when the enemy of Christ would divert us from the path the Lord has set before us in order to pursue worldly gain; in those moments when we are chided by those around us who are attaining worldly success while we are pursuing heavenly goals; when we are a failure in our own eyes—remember that Jesus sees and He affirms we’re on the right course!
Life will challenge us on every side—and the more so if we are determined to serve the Lord. The enemy of our soul is unlikely to interfere with our plans and schemes if they involve only our temporal desires. Because he is the god of this world, it serves his purpose to divert us from heavenly goals by rewarding our preoccupation with temporary, earthly acquisitions.
But if we set aside the worldly things that moth and rust corrupt in order to pursue the treasures of Heaven for ourselves—and to endeavor to share them with others—we will meet with his unrelenting opposition. The evil one will taunt us for our foolish waste of time. Often those taunts will be spoken through people whose respect we prefer to have.
The Lord who sees the end from the beginning has a word of encouragement for those who endure the slings and arrows of the enemy as they follow Jesus, as they try to serve the purposes of His Kingdom. In I Corinthians 15:58 it says, “My beloved brothers, be steadfast and abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor in His behalf is not in vain.”
In those moments when the enemy of Christ would divert us from the path the Lord has set before us in order to pursue worldly gain; in those moments when we are chided by those around us who are attaining worldly success while we are pursuing heavenly goals; when we are a failure in our own eyes—remember that Jesus sees and He affirms we’re on the right course!
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
August 5
The Lord does not want His people to focus so intently upon the immediate that they cannot project themselves into the future. He wants those who trust Him to be diligent about the task of the day and to leave the concerns of tomorrow with Him, but He also wants His children to envision bright hope for the future.
There is a fine balance between overcoming anxiety and appropriating a sense of expectation for the unseen that lies ahead. In Proverbs 29:18 the Word cautions, “Without vision, the people perish…” Without a sense of anticipation of future challenges and opportunities, stagnation can occur in the ‘now.’
God wants those who trust Him to be excited about the unseen circumstances He will unfold before them; He wants them to be tuned to His Holy Spirit so they will boldly go forward into the dreams He encourages them to achieve, for no great thing is ever done without vision.
In Habakkuk 2:2 and 3, He also reminds those who follow their dreams that, “The vision is for an appointed time; though it tarry, wait for it, for it will surely come.” The vision He gives does not come with a time table. The vision must be received and carried out in faith.
The Lord does not want His people to focus so intently upon the immediate that they cannot project themselves into the future. He wants those who trust Him to be diligent about the task of the day and to leave the concerns of tomorrow with Him, but He also wants His children to envision bright hope for the future.
There is a fine balance between overcoming anxiety and appropriating a sense of expectation for the unseen that lies ahead. In Proverbs 29:18 the Word cautions, “Without vision, the people perish…” Without a sense of anticipation of future challenges and opportunities, stagnation can occur in the ‘now.’
God wants those who trust Him to be excited about the unseen circumstances He will unfold before them; He wants them to be tuned to His Holy Spirit so they will boldly go forward into the dreams He encourages them to achieve, for no great thing is ever done without vision.
In Habakkuk 2:2 and 3, He also reminds those who follow their dreams that, “The vision is for an appointed time; though it tarry, wait for it, for it will surely come.” The vision He gives does not come with a time table. The vision must be received and carried out in faith.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
August 4
In Psalm 119:45-46, the psalmist declares a remarkable commitment that he has resolved to keep—and the amazing outcome he expects to flow from it. Here David says, “I will walk in liberty for I seek Your precepts and I will speak of You before kings and will not be ashamed.”
That’s quite remarkable coming from someone who began his career as a shepherd boy. As we think about David’s prescription for attaining an audience before the lofty people of our day, we, too can be assured that when we carry our message before them, we will not feel belittled by their importance.
First, to access the high and mighty of our world, we must walk in the freedom that we have in Christ. If we feel small—in our own eyes—we will certainly not compel the respect of those who are considered to be the movers and shakers of our day. If our eyes are not fastened upon the truths of the Lord, we will find ourselves focused on things that will diminish us.
When our eyes are on the Living Word, we will proclaim the truth Jesus has revealed to us both from the Bible and by the power of His Holy Spirit within us. We will not allow our witness to be affected by the status of the people to whom He sends us. Whether pauper or king, every man needs to know Jesus and we will not arrogantly deny the one or humbly defer sharing our faith with the other.
In Psalm 119:45-46, the psalmist declares a remarkable commitment that he has resolved to keep—and the amazing outcome he expects to flow from it. Here David says, “I will walk in liberty for I seek Your precepts and I will speak of You before kings and will not be ashamed.”
That’s quite remarkable coming from someone who began his career as a shepherd boy. As we think about David’s prescription for attaining an audience before the lofty people of our day, we, too can be assured that when we carry our message before them, we will not feel belittled by their importance.
First, to access the high and mighty of our world, we must walk in the freedom that we have in Christ. If we feel small—in our own eyes—we will certainly not compel the respect of those who are considered to be the movers and shakers of our day. If our eyes are not fastened upon the truths of the Lord, we will find ourselves focused on things that will diminish us.
When our eyes are on the Living Word, we will proclaim the truth Jesus has revealed to us both from the Bible and by the power of His Holy Spirit within us. We will not allow our witness to be affected by the status of the people to whom He sends us. Whether pauper or king, every man needs to know Jesus and we will not arrogantly deny the one or humbly defer sharing our faith with the other.
Monday, August 3, 2009
August 3
We tend to babble a lot. It’s as though we cannot abide silence. If we haven’t someone available with whom to carry on a conversation, we turn on the TV and watch whatever inane banality might be on the tube. We’re not discriminating. We just want voices around us to shut out our own thoughts.
Why do we feel we need to avoid contemplation? Perhaps it’s because we don’t want to focus our thoughts on anything of substance. We live in an age when everything has been dumbed-down. The foremost example of that is the fact that the exit exams for eighth graders in the 1800s were on the same level as college studies today.
We don’t study, we don’t investigate and we don’t require study or investigation of our children either. We settle for bubble gum for our brains, which explains why the United States has plummeted from the top of the list of academic excellence in the industrialized world to the bottom in two generations. Part of the explanation for this free fall lies in what we’ve done with God and His Word. We no longer
‘…study to show ourselves approved of the Lord’ (II Timothy 2:15).
In Hebrews 12:15, we are given the key to reclaiming excellence in every area of life, both spiritual and temporal. If we’ll begin to heed it again, we’ll recapture our leadership position among the nations. When we, “…watch to see that none fall back from God’s grace (then) no root of trouble will rise up to defile…” As we’ve reduced our dependence upon God and His grace, we have defiled ourselves with mediocrity and the evidence of that defilement in academia is overwhelming!
We tend to babble a lot. It’s as though we cannot abide silence. If we haven’t someone available with whom to carry on a conversation, we turn on the TV and watch whatever inane banality might be on the tube. We’re not discriminating. We just want voices around us to shut out our own thoughts.
Why do we feel we need to avoid contemplation? Perhaps it’s because we don’t want to focus our thoughts on anything of substance. We live in an age when everything has been dumbed-down. The foremost example of that is the fact that the exit exams for eighth graders in the 1800s were on the same level as college studies today.
We don’t study, we don’t investigate and we don’t require study or investigation of our children either. We settle for bubble gum for our brains, which explains why the United States has plummeted from the top of the list of academic excellence in the industrialized world to the bottom in two generations. Part of the explanation for this free fall lies in what we’ve done with God and His Word. We no longer
‘…study to show ourselves approved of the Lord’ (II Timothy 2:15).
In Hebrews 12:15, we are given the key to reclaiming excellence in every area of life, both spiritual and temporal. If we’ll begin to heed it again, we’ll recapture our leadership position among the nations. When we, “…watch to see that none fall back from God’s grace (then) no root of trouble will rise up to defile…” As we’ve reduced our dependence upon God and His grace, we have defiled ourselves with mediocrity and the evidence of that defilement in academia is overwhelming!
Sunday, August 2, 2009
August 2
The Apostle Paul didn’t think much of the great thinkers of his day. In fact, he stood on Mars Hill in Athens, where the most astute minds of the age gathered to reflect together and expound to the crowds that gathered around them to drink in of their insight, and he refuted their wisdom. Paul refuted their pantheon of gods and presented to them the only true wisdom on earth—that of Jesus Christ and Him crucified and arisen for all mankind.
In I Corinthians 1:20 Paul challenged the believers at Corinth to ponder, “Where is the wisdom of the philosopher? Where is the knowledge of the scholar? Where is the skill of the debater? Has not God revealed the foolishness of this world and its supposed wisdom?”
If those words were true when Paul wrote them, how much more must they prick our hearts and minds today? We see the news as it unfolds and watch as institutions thought unshakable crumble before our eyes and as documents upon which our nation was established are shredded by novice politicians who know nothing of statesmanship—and we know wisdom has been swallowed up by folly.
Where do we turn for answers when the voice of reason has been silenced? We must lift our eyes to Jesus, as Paul admonished the Corinthians to do. We must recognize the abject futility of placing our hope in governments or in the men who corrupt them. We must be steadfast in our reliance upon Christ—and be willing to submerge the wisdom of the world in Him, the Truth of the Ages.
The Apostle Paul didn’t think much of the great thinkers of his day. In fact, he stood on Mars Hill in Athens, where the most astute minds of the age gathered to reflect together and expound to the crowds that gathered around them to drink in of their insight, and he refuted their wisdom. Paul refuted their pantheon of gods and presented to them the only true wisdom on earth—that of Jesus Christ and Him crucified and arisen for all mankind.
In I Corinthians 1:20 Paul challenged the believers at Corinth to ponder, “Where is the wisdom of the philosopher? Where is the knowledge of the scholar? Where is the skill of the debater? Has not God revealed the foolishness of this world and its supposed wisdom?”
If those words were true when Paul wrote them, how much more must they prick our hearts and minds today? We see the news as it unfolds and watch as institutions thought unshakable crumble before our eyes and as documents upon which our nation was established are shredded by novice politicians who know nothing of statesmanship—and we know wisdom has been swallowed up by folly.
Where do we turn for answers when the voice of reason has been silenced? We must lift our eyes to Jesus, as Paul admonished the Corinthians to do. We must recognize the abject futility of placing our hope in governments or in the men who corrupt them. We must be steadfast in our reliance upon Christ—and be willing to submerge the wisdom of the world in Him, the Truth of the Ages.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
August 1
There is a mindset that balks at correction. Some people possess it to a great degree, but we all have it. It’s the aspect of our character that rises up in indignation when we are challenged. Our conviction is essentially that we’ve thought it through and the conclusion we’ve reached is irrefutable.
This position is most pronounced in us when it involves matters of honor and integrity. We are sure we would not do a shabby thing and resent the suggestion that an action or a word of ours might be questionable. The reality is, the more steadfast we are in this conviction about ourselves, about our motivation, the more in need we are of the reality check we deny.
How do we get to the place where we honestly see ourselves as righteous, as above reproach when the Word itself insists that “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God”? (Romans 3:23) It has a lot to do with comparing ourselves among ourselves, which the Word tells us “is not wise.” (II Corinthians 10:12) When we look at other people, we can appear quite good by comparison. When we look at Jesus, we all appear wanting.
It behooves us to accept God’s assessment of our situation, to recognize as Hebrews 12:11 states, “For the time being no discipline brings joy but seems grievous, yet afterward it yields the fruit of true righteousness to those who have received it…” If our true desire is to be righteous in the eyes of the Lord rather than merely right in our own eyes, we will receive His correction and conform to His will, which is “pure and righteous altogether”(Psalm 19:9).
There is a mindset that balks at correction. Some people possess it to a great degree, but we all have it. It’s the aspect of our character that rises up in indignation when we are challenged. Our conviction is essentially that we’ve thought it through and the conclusion we’ve reached is irrefutable.
This position is most pronounced in us when it involves matters of honor and integrity. We are sure we would not do a shabby thing and resent the suggestion that an action or a word of ours might be questionable. The reality is, the more steadfast we are in this conviction about ourselves, about our motivation, the more in need we are of the reality check we deny.
How do we get to the place where we honestly see ourselves as righteous, as above reproach when the Word itself insists that “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God”? (Romans 3:23) It has a lot to do with comparing ourselves among ourselves, which the Word tells us “is not wise.” (II Corinthians 10:12) When we look at other people, we can appear quite good by comparison. When we look at Jesus, we all appear wanting.
It behooves us to accept God’s assessment of our situation, to recognize as Hebrews 12:11 states, “For the time being no discipline brings joy but seems grievous, yet afterward it yields the fruit of true righteousness to those who have received it…” If our true desire is to be righteous in the eyes of the Lord rather than merely right in our own eyes, we will receive His correction and conform to His will, which is “pure and righteous altogether”(Psalm 19:9).
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