June 8
What’s the ultimate power trip? Is it being the guy who aces the test? Lands the big promotion? Wins the fair maiden? Picks the winning lottery number? All of this is heady stuff indeed. All of these things can make a person feel like he’s on top of the world. And all of these things can cause a man’s world to crash around him.
Life is fickle. Circumstances are ever changing. The old saying is that if you don’t like the situation you’re in, don’t sweat it because you won’t be in it long. Life ebbs and flows like the tide. The person who has it all can lose it all. So what then is the ‘ultimate power trip’?
Of course, it has nothing to do with the things of earth and time. It has everything to do with Heaven and eternity. So how can a mere mortal tap into the unseen realm where the Lord Jesus Christ dwells? How can a creature of earth’s dust touch the rarified realm of Heaven? The answer is found in Matthew 16:19.
Here Jesus says, “Whatever you bind on earth is bound in Heaven and whatever you loose on earth is loosed in Heaven.” Your words—spoken with faith in Jesus and confidence in His power—can transform lives from lost-ness to salvation. The power of life and death are yours to speak to those around you. Your ultimate power trip is to use your tongue for Jesus’ purposes and for His glory.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Monday, June 7, 2010
On This Rock
June 7
The onslaught against the Church of Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord began at its inception. The enemy of the purposes of God Almighty has been relentless in his endeavor to undo the people of God and to negate their effectiveness. What he couldn’t achieve through persecution from without, he has endeavored to do through corruption from within.
When believers observe a ‘social gospel’ being preached from the pulpits of the land instead of the pure Word of God, undefiled, it is disconcerting. When believers recognize a coarsening of the moral integrity of people of faith, it is heart wrenching. The line between the Church and the world is quite blurred.
Yet, we must take heart, for we know that things are never as they appear. When it seems the Body of Christ is ‘on the ropes’ and the inevitable knockout blow is about to be delivered, we must yet stand strong in the hope we have and in the assurance HE has given us that His Church, His Bride will not only survive but shall be pure and ready for Heaven.
The words of Jesus to Peter in Matthew 16:18 were true when He spoke them and they are forever true! “You are Peter and on this rock I will build My church and the forces of hell shall not prevail against it!” The battle is fierce. The foe is relentless. The casualties are many. The prize is each man’s eternal soul. Fight hard! Your Commander goes before you and fights with you.
The onslaught against the Church of Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord began at its inception. The enemy of the purposes of God Almighty has been relentless in his endeavor to undo the people of God and to negate their effectiveness. What he couldn’t achieve through persecution from without, he has endeavored to do through corruption from within.
When believers observe a ‘social gospel’ being preached from the pulpits of the land instead of the pure Word of God, undefiled, it is disconcerting. When believers recognize a coarsening of the moral integrity of people of faith, it is heart wrenching. The line between the Church and the world is quite blurred.
Yet, we must take heart, for we know that things are never as they appear. When it seems the Body of Christ is ‘on the ropes’ and the inevitable knockout blow is about to be delivered, we must yet stand strong in the hope we have and in the assurance HE has given us that His Church, His Bride will not only survive but shall be pure and ready for Heaven.
The words of Jesus to Peter in Matthew 16:18 were true when He spoke them and they are forever true! “You are Peter and on this rock I will build My church and the forces of hell shall not prevail against it!” The battle is fierce. The foe is relentless. The casualties are many. The prize is each man’s eternal soul. Fight hard! Your Commander goes before you and fights with you.
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Bathed in Prayer
June 5
Spiritual blindness pervaded the culture of Paul’s day. Only the Jews, among all the people of the world, abided in the Light of God’s revealed truth. The Greeks and Romans enjoyed a level of advancement that was amazingly creative and powerful—as did the Chinese in the east—but all abode in spiritual darkness.
When Christianity was introduced into the pagan world of Rome, the Apostle Paul strove fervently to scatter seeds of faith in every corner of the Empire. The Pax Romana enabled him to travel in relative safety and through his efforts, as well as those of the other Apostles, Light entered the darkness.
Their efforts were bathed in prayer. In Ephesians 1:18, Paul says, “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so you may know what is the hope of His calling.” Paul understood that it took more that mere exposure to Christ’s Light to illumine a man’s heart.
Paul knew that each heart needed to be tender toward Truth in order for the Light, Jesus, to penetrate the night. Today, we who bear Truth within us, must recognize the pervasive darkness around us. We must bathe the blind in prayer so their spiritual eyes and hearts may be open to Jesus’ life-changing Light!
Spiritual blindness pervaded the culture of Paul’s day. Only the Jews, among all the people of the world, abided in the Light of God’s revealed truth. The Greeks and Romans enjoyed a level of advancement that was amazingly creative and powerful—as did the Chinese in the east—but all abode in spiritual darkness.
When Christianity was introduced into the pagan world of Rome, the Apostle Paul strove fervently to scatter seeds of faith in every corner of the Empire. The Pax Romana enabled him to travel in relative safety and through his efforts, as well as those of the other Apostles, Light entered the darkness.
Their efforts were bathed in prayer. In Ephesians 1:18, Paul says, “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so you may know what is the hope of His calling.” Paul understood that it took more that mere exposure to Christ’s Light to illumine a man’s heart.
Paul knew that each heart needed to be tender toward Truth in order for the Light, Jesus, to penetrate the night. Today, we who bear Truth within us, must recognize the pervasive darkness around us. We must bathe the blind in prayer so their spiritual eyes and hearts may be open to Jesus’ life-changing Light!
Friday, June 4, 2010
Where? What? How?
June 4
Where does the Lord want us to go? What does He want us to do with our talents and abilities? How would He have us to carry ourselves into the world of lost, dying people who are perishing for a lack of the knowledge of His Gospel?
Answers to the above: Where He sends us. Lay them at His feet. With humility and love.
If we lack a surrendered spirit that will follow where He leads, and a devoted spirit that will make all our resources available to Him, and a humble spirit that will give Him the glory when our tasks have been achieved, then we will be nothing but the “…sounding brass and tinkling cymbals” of I Corinthians 13:1 that great gifts become without love.
Unless we are willing to lay all recognition for our efforts before Jesus, knowing as the Word says in Ephesians 2:10 that, “We are His…we are created in Christ Jesus for good work which God expects us to walk in,” we cannot begin to see the goal of our work, or to recognize the source of our abilities, or to appropriate the humility and love to please Him through our endeavors.
Where does the Lord want us to go? What does He want us to do with our talents and abilities? How would He have us to carry ourselves into the world of lost, dying people who are perishing for a lack of the knowledge of His Gospel?
Answers to the above: Where He sends us. Lay them at His feet. With humility and love.
If we lack a surrendered spirit that will follow where He leads, and a devoted spirit that will make all our resources available to Him, and a humble spirit that will give Him the glory when our tasks have been achieved, then we will be nothing but the “…sounding brass and tinkling cymbals” of I Corinthians 13:1 that great gifts become without love.
Unless we are willing to lay all recognition for our efforts before Jesus, knowing as the Word says in Ephesians 2:10 that, “We are His…we are created in Christ Jesus for good work which God expects us to walk in,” we cannot begin to see the goal of our work, or to recognize the source of our abilities, or to appropriate the humility and love to please Him through our endeavors.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Glory to Christ Alone
June 3
God has created a beautiful universe and He has been gracious and generous in His sharing of it with mankind. He allows us the opportunity of looking into the heavens and beholding the glory of the stars He flung into space with His hands. He warms us with the sun and lights our darkness with the light of the moon.
He has fashioned people with whom we may interact—friendships to enjoy, lovers to dispel our loneliness, children to challenge our ability to nurture the next generation and inspire them with faith. Flowers to brighten the seasons, food to satisfy our hunger…so much of His provision enriches our senses.
We know He blesses us from His great heart of love for us, and we know He will not share the glory He deserves from us because of His amazing bountiful gifts with another. Beyond the praise and honor He deserves for the every-day treasure that we take for granted, there is another area of which we should be mindful when we are lifting praise and thanksgiving to Him. The Lord gives us the opportunity to serve Him, to further the goals of Christ.
Some have been called to preach His Word or to expound the doctrines of His Kingdom. There are people who have amassed great fortunes through their purported efforts to spread the Gospel. Revelation 19:10 admonishes us from the pen of the Apostle John as he wrote while on the Isle of Patmos, “Don’t bow down to me, for I, too, am a fellow slave with you and your brothers who have the testimony of Jesus! Worship God!” He alone is worthy of praise for all His gifts. No man deserves His glory.
God has created a beautiful universe and He has been gracious and generous in His sharing of it with mankind. He allows us the opportunity of looking into the heavens and beholding the glory of the stars He flung into space with His hands. He warms us with the sun and lights our darkness with the light of the moon.
He has fashioned people with whom we may interact—friendships to enjoy, lovers to dispel our loneliness, children to challenge our ability to nurture the next generation and inspire them with faith. Flowers to brighten the seasons, food to satisfy our hunger…so much of His provision enriches our senses.
We know He blesses us from His great heart of love for us, and we know He will not share the glory He deserves from us because of His amazing bountiful gifts with another. Beyond the praise and honor He deserves for the every-day treasure that we take for granted, there is another area of which we should be mindful when we are lifting praise and thanksgiving to Him. The Lord gives us the opportunity to serve Him, to further the goals of Christ.
Some have been called to preach His Word or to expound the doctrines of His Kingdom. There are people who have amassed great fortunes through their purported efforts to spread the Gospel. Revelation 19:10 admonishes us from the pen of the Apostle John as he wrote while on the Isle of Patmos, “Don’t bow down to me, for I, too, am a fellow slave with you and your brothers who have the testimony of Jesus! Worship God!” He alone is worthy of praise for all His gifts. No man deserves His glory.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Finding God's Favor
June 2
Finding God’s favor. At first contemplation the prospect of finding God’s favor sounds like it would have the same impact upon our lives as would our winning of the lottery for ‘mega millions’! It sounds like the ultimate opportunity to ‘hit the jackpot.’ But God isn’t the lotto in the sky. His purposes are loftier than that.
Perhaps then, finding God’s favor means we would become more socially adept. Some of us are constrained from achieving any real social concourse by our inability to relate well to other people. We tend to be introverted and our efforts to interact with others fail abysmally.
Of course, the Lord would have us to be accomplished in establishing relationships and building rapport with others because part of our purpose in being here is to share the good news of Jesus with others. If we are tongue-tied and socially inept, we will be ineffective toward that end so it behooves Him to facilitate His own purposes by giving us more social grace.
But God’s favor exceeds even that lofty endeavor. In Exodus 33:17, God makes this astonishing promise to Moses—“I will do the very thing you have asked because you have found favor in My sight.” The very thing he asked. But, Moses, like God’s people today, knew he must ask in accordance with God’s will in order to reap the fruit of that amazing promise.
Finding God’s favor. At first contemplation the prospect of finding God’s favor sounds like it would have the same impact upon our lives as would our winning of the lottery for ‘mega millions’! It sounds like the ultimate opportunity to ‘hit the jackpot.’ But God isn’t the lotto in the sky. His purposes are loftier than that.
Perhaps then, finding God’s favor means we would become more socially adept. Some of us are constrained from achieving any real social concourse by our inability to relate well to other people. We tend to be introverted and our efforts to interact with others fail abysmally.
Of course, the Lord would have us to be accomplished in establishing relationships and building rapport with others because part of our purpose in being here is to share the good news of Jesus with others. If we are tongue-tied and socially inept, we will be ineffective toward that end so it behooves Him to facilitate His own purposes by giving us more social grace.
But God’s favor exceeds even that lofty endeavor. In Exodus 33:17, God makes this astonishing promise to Moses—“I will do the very thing you have asked because you have found favor in My sight.” The very thing he asked. But, Moses, like God’s people today, knew he must ask in accordance with God’s will in order to reap the fruit of that amazing promise.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
The Unknown
June 1
The ‘unknown.’ At once the senses of exhilaration and apprehension slither up our spine at the thought of the term and what it might entail. We like to think that our unknowable tomorrows hold excitement and adventure that will lead us to accomplishment and prosperity. We hope for wonderful things.
Yet there is that lurking voice of caution that admonishes that we not be too hasty to presume the best. The better part of prudence is to be ever vigilant and prepared to deal with eventualities that may be less than the pleasant ones we eagerly anticipate.
The Word of God encourages us to look forward to a bright tomorrow. In fact, in Lamentations 3:22, 23, it says, “Your mercies never end. They are new every morning. Great is Your faithfulness.” What an up-lifting hope is contained in that assurance! What an amazing path of confidence on which to take our next step.
Here we are told not only that we might expect God’s presence and mercy to be extended toward us on the morrow, but we may presume that all our tomorrows will be enveloped in beauty and light and life! If His mercy toward us never ends, we may be confident that we need never face a day without His blessing upon it.
The ‘unknown.’ At once the senses of exhilaration and apprehension slither up our spine at the thought of the term and what it might entail. We like to think that our unknowable tomorrows hold excitement and adventure that will lead us to accomplishment and prosperity. We hope for wonderful things.
Yet there is that lurking voice of caution that admonishes that we not be too hasty to presume the best. The better part of prudence is to be ever vigilant and prepared to deal with eventualities that may be less than the pleasant ones we eagerly anticipate.
The Word of God encourages us to look forward to a bright tomorrow. In fact, in Lamentations 3:22, 23, it says, “Your mercies never end. They are new every morning. Great is Your faithfulness.” What an up-lifting hope is contained in that assurance! What an amazing path of confidence on which to take our next step.
Here we are told not only that we might expect God’s presence and mercy to be extended toward us on the morrow, but we may presume that all our tomorrows will be enveloped in beauty and light and life! If His mercy toward us never ends, we may be confident that we need never face a day without His blessing upon it.
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