June 7
The Lord is Himself the answer to our every question, the supply for our every need, the fulfillment of our every hope, the great Gift we each yearn to open. Attaining Jesus, is to have everything, for He is the fullness of our desire, the fulfillment of our faith, the reward of our surrender of ourselves to His loving hand.
He did not come for an elite group. He did not spend Himself for a select few. The Word makes it clear that anyone who wants Him may have Him. He is no respecter of persons so He does not discriminate by nationality or race or wealth or gender or politics. He opens His arms wide to embrace everyone who will receive Him.
In the ancient world, to be fat was thought to be an indication of God’s favor. Only those who could not afford food were thought to be lean. Even in that day, the Lord was trying to dispel that erroneous notion. In this regard, He said, “The poor and afflicted shall eat and be satisfied; they shall praise the Lord…”Psalm 22:26. Notice His inclusion of the poor and afflicted.
He goes on to say in that same verse, “May your hearts be quickened now and forever,” for it is in becoming alive to that truth that we are enlightened to the complete provision the Lord has made for everyone who will receive. He here apprises us that even those considered unblessed are in reality held securely in His hand of blessing if their hearts will but receive Him.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
June 6
Rising early. Working late. Having little time for friends and family. Being immersed in work 24/7. If we tally the cost of worldly success, the price is usually paid in this coinage. We know it’s steep. We know the acquisitions that result from the spending of it will often disappoint us. Yet we persist in doling out the ‘change’ that we hope will ‘change’ our lives for the good.
We are concerned that were we to simply stop the treadmill and step off we would be perceived as losers—not only in the eyes of everyone we know but more importantly, in our own. And that is not to say we want to abandon all sense of responsibility; rather to place duty somewhere a bit lower on our list of priorities. But, we know doing so would result in another list of problems.
How can we align our responsibilities aright? How can we invest ourselves appropriately in order to attain the necessities of life along with some of its luxuries without compromising our eternal reward? As always, the ultimate answer to this question, as to every other, lies in the Word of God. As always, His focus in upon the true treasure that transcends time and spends in eternity!
In I Corinthians 2:7 we are told, “…what we are setting forth is the wisdom of God, once hidden but now revealed by God Himself and devised for our glorification.” The only wisdom set forth in the scriptures is that which is oriented around Christ. If we possess the earth’s wisdom and its incumbent treasure we have no glory if we have spent ourselves upon its attainment yet have not the unspeakable Gift of eternal salvation.
Rising early. Working late. Having little time for friends and family. Being immersed in work 24/7. If we tally the cost of worldly success, the price is usually paid in this coinage. We know it’s steep. We know the acquisitions that result from the spending of it will often disappoint us. Yet we persist in doling out the ‘change’ that we hope will ‘change’ our lives for the good.
We are concerned that were we to simply stop the treadmill and step off we would be perceived as losers—not only in the eyes of everyone we know but more importantly, in our own. And that is not to say we want to abandon all sense of responsibility; rather to place duty somewhere a bit lower on our list of priorities. But, we know doing so would result in another list of problems.
How can we align our responsibilities aright? How can we invest ourselves appropriately in order to attain the necessities of life along with some of its luxuries without compromising our eternal reward? As always, the ultimate answer to this question, as to every other, lies in the Word of God. As always, His focus in upon the true treasure that transcends time and spends in eternity!
In I Corinthians 2:7 we are told, “…what we are setting forth is the wisdom of God, once hidden but now revealed by God Himself and devised for our glorification.” The only wisdom set forth in the scriptures is that which is oriented around Christ. If we possess the earth’s wisdom and its incumbent treasure we have no glory if we have spent ourselves upon its attainment yet have not the unspeakable Gift of eternal salvation.
Friday, June 5, 2009
June 5
Blessings. So much of human desire is embraced in that word. So much hope, so much promise, so much anticipation. Although we who believe realize that the greatest blessings we can hope to enjoy are the things of heaven, not the temporary trappings of earth, we cannot but feel our hearts tug toward realization of temporal fulfillment.
The Lord in His Word seems to nod His head in assent that these longings are not outside His desire to fulfill. In II Chronicles 16:27 we are told, “Honor and majesty are found in His presence; strength and joy are in His sanctuary.” These four words speak to the essence of all for which we long. If we have them, we have it all.
‘Honor’ speaks to the esteem we seek among our fellow men. We want people to hold us in high regard. We strive to earn their admiration through our physical or mental prowess—through the things these attributes accrue to us. Certainly the word ‘majesty’ affirms the financial success we attain and the wonderful things it affords to us. We exercise our innate gifts in order to reap the benefits they make available to us.
‘Strength’ bespeaks the power incumbent with worldly success and ‘joy’ is the emotion in which we yearn to abide with its attainment. The ‘how’ of achieving these things may elude our finite minds, but God shares that secret with us, for He wants us to have them. If we abide in His presence, are found among those who worship Him, we shall find His rich temporal and eternal reward.
Blessings. So much of human desire is embraced in that word. So much hope, so much promise, so much anticipation. Although we who believe realize that the greatest blessings we can hope to enjoy are the things of heaven, not the temporary trappings of earth, we cannot but feel our hearts tug toward realization of temporal fulfillment.
The Lord in His Word seems to nod His head in assent that these longings are not outside His desire to fulfill. In II Chronicles 16:27 we are told, “Honor and majesty are found in His presence; strength and joy are in His sanctuary.” These four words speak to the essence of all for which we long. If we have them, we have it all.
‘Honor’ speaks to the esteem we seek among our fellow men. We want people to hold us in high regard. We strive to earn their admiration through our physical or mental prowess—through the things these attributes accrue to us. Certainly the word ‘majesty’ affirms the financial success we attain and the wonderful things it affords to us. We exercise our innate gifts in order to reap the benefits they make available to us.
‘Strength’ bespeaks the power incumbent with worldly success and ‘joy’ is the emotion in which we yearn to abide with its attainment. The ‘how’ of achieving these things may elude our finite minds, but God shares that secret with us, for He wants us to have them. If we abide in His presence, are found among those who worship Him, we shall find His rich temporal and eternal reward.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
June 4
How many of us have children who have let us down at some point in their lives due to something they have done or something they have been unwilling to do? Our love for our children is not diminished when they disappoint us, however our love takes on an element of yearning for their compliance with what we know is good for them.
We nurture our children and at each juncture along the road to their maturity, we hope to see them making the right turn. When they proceed on a course that our older, wiser minds recognize as being a wrong path, we anguish for them. We know they will encounter heartache they needn’t face if they would simply follow the advice of the wise.
In Proverbs 4:6, the Lord addresses the consequence of diverging from the path He has set before His people. He says, “Forsake not wisdom and she will keep and defend and protect you. If you love her, she will guard you.” God’s Word imparts to anyone who will read it of the wisdom of the ages, of the truth that is eternal. The consequence of ignoring it is to stumble into a path that leads to futility.
He wants His children to embrace His truth to their hearts, for Jesus is TRUTH. When someone opens his heart to truth, he must thereby receive the Lord Jesus Christ as His Savior and as the One on the throne of his life. When He receives Jesus, the delight of the God of Creation is complete in him. God’s heart yearns to know that fullness of joy in each of us. Oh, that we might please Him as we yearn for our children to please us!
How many of us have children who have let us down at some point in their lives due to something they have done or something they have been unwilling to do? Our love for our children is not diminished when they disappoint us, however our love takes on an element of yearning for their compliance with what we know is good for them.
We nurture our children and at each juncture along the road to their maturity, we hope to see them making the right turn. When they proceed on a course that our older, wiser minds recognize as being a wrong path, we anguish for them. We know they will encounter heartache they needn’t face if they would simply follow the advice of the wise.
In Proverbs 4:6, the Lord addresses the consequence of diverging from the path He has set before His people. He says, “Forsake not wisdom and she will keep and defend and protect you. If you love her, she will guard you.” God’s Word imparts to anyone who will read it of the wisdom of the ages, of the truth that is eternal. The consequence of ignoring it is to stumble into a path that leads to futility.
He wants His children to embrace His truth to their hearts, for Jesus is TRUTH. When someone opens his heart to truth, he must thereby receive the Lord Jesus Christ as His Savior and as the One on the throne of his life. When He receives Jesus, the delight of the God of Creation is complete in him. God’s heart yearns to know that fullness of joy in each of us. Oh, that we might please Him as we yearn for our children to please us!
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
June 3
Your God delights in you. He may take great joy in every other person on the planet but that does not lessen in any way the incomparable delight He has in you. His love for you in no way reduces the greatness of His love for others. This is a difficult concept for the finite mind to grasp. Exclusivity is part of what we expect in meaningful relationships.
The idea of finding the right one with whom to spend a lifetime means all other candidates must be weeded out. As much as our morals have been compromised and as much as our attitude toward relationships has been modified from “one man with one woman for one lifetime” we still basically adhere to the idea of exclusivity in romantic relationships.
Although the Lord sees us as individuals, it is obvious He also sees those of us who profess faith in Him as one body, one entity. He sees us as ‘the church,’ and it is the church for which He died. He told Peter the ‘body of Christ’ was established upon the unshakable truth he uttered, “We believe and are sure that You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” He said the gates of hell could not prevail against that bit of insight.
He also said that the Lord, “takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the humble with salvation and adorn the wretched with victory.” Into the ugliness of our sin, Jesus imparts the beauty of His salvation to those who are humble enough to receive it. He also assures those who stare wretchedly at the gaping jaws of devouring sin that they shall have victory. When we own that beauty, that victory, His delight in us is complete.
Your God delights in you. He may take great joy in every other person on the planet but that does not lessen in any way the incomparable delight He has in you. His love for you in no way reduces the greatness of His love for others. This is a difficult concept for the finite mind to grasp. Exclusivity is part of what we expect in meaningful relationships.
The idea of finding the right one with whom to spend a lifetime means all other candidates must be weeded out. As much as our morals have been compromised and as much as our attitude toward relationships has been modified from “one man with one woman for one lifetime” we still basically adhere to the idea of exclusivity in romantic relationships.
Although the Lord sees us as individuals, it is obvious He also sees those of us who profess faith in Him as one body, one entity. He sees us as ‘the church,’ and it is the church for which He died. He told Peter the ‘body of Christ’ was established upon the unshakable truth he uttered, “We believe and are sure that You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” He said the gates of hell could not prevail against that bit of insight.
He also said that the Lord, “takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the humble with salvation and adorn the wretched with victory.” Into the ugliness of our sin, Jesus imparts the beauty of His salvation to those who are humble enough to receive it. He also assures those who stare wretchedly at the gaping jaws of devouring sin that they shall have victory. When we own that beauty, that victory, His delight in us is complete.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
June 2
How often we have trusted the wrong person. Whether we have succumbed to the high pressure tactics of a car salesman and purchased a vehicle we really couldn’t afford or whether we have allowed ourselves to be persuaded of the undying fidelity of one who professed to love us forever then let us down, we have felt the sting of betrayal and the anguish of self-recrimination at our foolishness in being deceived.
These kinds of mistakes tend to make us leery of ever trusting again. Of course, we can’t simply retreat into the shell of our lives and exclude contact with others. We can’t require ourselves to drive an antiquated vehicle because we’re afraid to buy a new one. We can’t deny ourselves the joy of loving because we fear being unloved in return.
How can we resolve our dilemma—that of yearning for the joy of fulfillment in the people and experiences that life brings our way but distaining the anxiety reaching out for it may produce in our lives? As with every quandary in which we find ourselves, this one has its resolution in the unfailing Word of the Living God if we will but appropriate it.
In Philippians 4:13 we are given the key that unlocks the door of our ability to love and to trust those whom we love as well as to overcome every challenge life may hurl our way. It says, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” All things. Nothing is impossible. He who dwells within us is greater than all that challenges us.
How often we have trusted the wrong person. Whether we have succumbed to the high pressure tactics of a car salesman and purchased a vehicle we really couldn’t afford or whether we have allowed ourselves to be persuaded of the undying fidelity of one who professed to love us forever then let us down, we have felt the sting of betrayal and the anguish of self-recrimination at our foolishness in being deceived.
These kinds of mistakes tend to make us leery of ever trusting again. Of course, we can’t simply retreat into the shell of our lives and exclude contact with others. We can’t require ourselves to drive an antiquated vehicle because we’re afraid to buy a new one. We can’t deny ourselves the joy of loving because we fear being unloved in return.
How can we resolve our dilemma—that of yearning for the joy of fulfillment in the people and experiences that life brings our way but distaining the anxiety reaching out for it may produce in our lives? As with every quandary in which we find ourselves, this one has its resolution in the unfailing Word of the Living God if we will but appropriate it.
In Philippians 4:13 we are given the key that unlocks the door of our ability to love and to trust those whom we love as well as to overcome every challenge life may hurl our way. It says, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” All things. Nothing is impossible. He who dwells within us is greater than all that challenges us.
Monday, June 1, 2009
June 1
One thing people of faith often overlook is the fact that they need to be renewed regularly in the inner man. Even the great Apostle Paul recognized that his lapses into the patterns of thinking and acting that are characteristic of the “old,” unregenerate man were persistent. You do it, too. No matter how well-intentioned you or I may be, we succumb to this unless we allow His intervention.
In Psalm 51:10 we are afforded an insight into our need and into the provision the Lord has made for it. The Psalmist’s cry must be ours. Like him, we must turn to the Author and Finisher of our faith and say, “Create in me a clean heart, O God and renew a right spirit within me.”
When we have allowed Jesus to give us a heart of flesh instead of a heart of stone, when we have allowed Him to assume Lordship of our lives by allowing Him to reign within our heart, we have given Him the authority to transform our lives from the destructivity of the flesh to the productivity of the spirit.
Yet when He has, when we have allowed Him access and control, we still must give Him the latitude to renew our spirit regularly, for the lure of our old habits and our old life will seduce us again if we neglect to subject ourselves to His mind and to His heart for a daily infusion of Himself into our inner man.
One thing people of faith often overlook is the fact that they need to be renewed regularly in the inner man. Even the great Apostle Paul recognized that his lapses into the patterns of thinking and acting that are characteristic of the “old,” unregenerate man were persistent. You do it, too. No matter how well-intentioned you or I may be, we succumb to this unless we allow His intervention.
In Psalm 51:10 we are afforded an insight into our need and into the provision the Lord has made for it. The Psalmist’s cry must be ours. Like him, we must turn to the Author and Finisher of our faith and say, “Create in me a clean heart, O God and renew a right spirit within me.”
When we have allowed Jesus to give us a heart of flesh instead of a heart of stone, when we have allowed Him to assume Lordship of our lives by allowing Him to reign within our heart, we have given Him the authority to transform our lives from the destructivity of the flesh to the productivity of the spirit.
Yet when He has, when we have allowed Him access and control, we still must give Him the latitude to renew our spirit regularly, for the lure of our old habits and our old life will seduce us again if we neglect to subject ourselves to His mind and to His heart for a daily infusion of Himself into our inner man.
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