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2/1/19                                          “Who, Me?”                                          1 

Take counsel together, but it will come to nothing; speak the word, but it will not stand, for God is with us.  Isaiah 8:10

RECOMMENDED READING: Jeremiah 1:9-10  “Then the LORD put out His hand and touched my mouth. And the LORD said to me, “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. See, I have set you this day over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to break down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.””

COMMENTS:  Jeremiah was only a teen or a young man in his early 20’s at most when God came to him with a call to be God’s prophet to his people. He would be given the power to impact nations in his generations and in generations to come even to today. How could he imagine the magnitude he would have or the great cost or sacrifice he would face.  No wonder Jeremiah’s initial reaction was to say “Ah, Lord God behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth.”  God did not take no for an answer but addresses Jeremiah’s concerns and doubts.                           Jeremiah 1:6-8 “Do not say, ‘I’m only a youth’; for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak.  Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the Lord.”

Jeremiah’s initial response was one of doubt and fear.  A strong sense of inadequacy and overwhelmed at task God was calling him to do.  God understood Jeremiah’s fears and assured him to not fear but trust God to stay true to His Word and never leave or abandon Jeremiah and provide words and courage and protection to fulfill his mission.  That was enough to convince Jeremiah to step out in faith and obedience. 

You and I will not likely be confronted with same calling or challenges that Jeremiah faced nor have the lasting impact he has had.  But then again he didn’t dream of such either.  He simply obeyed God each day one step at a time. He would journey or go where lead to without knowing what he would face next. 

You and I should not discount or take lightly the impact we can have if we seek and follow the call God has for you and me too.  It may not be as challenging as Jeremiah’s but consider the responsibility and influence God has given us as parents, as grandparents, as a teacher or engineer or office worker or factory worker or …..  The influence we have to those we  work with or serve is impacted by our willingness to submit to God’s calling and Will and level of Joy and eagerness to do His Will.   Who is our employer?  Is it our supervisor or employer or is it God who made and sustains and enables our employer to provide a job for us and ability to pay us for doing that work.  How well we do our job and how we interact with others is dependent on the relationship with have with God and how much we love Him. 

Can you remember your first day of school, the first day of college, the first day of a new job, the first time you spoke in front of an audience or attended an important event?  Well, the sense of nervous anxiety caused us to prepare and practice and put on our best clothes to prepare and be on our best behavior.  Desire to make a good impression and be well thought of.  To work towards a goal and then realize that goal can bring great satisfaction but then responsibility such accomplishment require can temper excitement and joy experienced. 

Fear and nervousness comes from doubting our abilities or lack of experience or skills.   With youth comes energy and enthusiasm and passion but also impulsiveness and foolish lack of experience and wisdom too. 

God brought to Jeremiah the experience, and wisdom and planning and wisdom Jeremiah lacked.  But then again, God provided such far above what Jeremiah could achieve in 100 lifetimes, or what we could either.

So, we each need to realize the same God who loves and used Jeremiah to do great things – partnering with Him, also loves and desires for us to also partner with Him too.  Partner in guiding others into a personal relationship with Him too and partnering in leading others to life – life eternal – life filled with confident hope. 

Truth is, if God calls us to lead just one to Christ in our lifetime, He will greet us into heaven with a “well done good and faithful servant” just as much as He greeted Jeremiah or Paul or Billy Graham.  The parable of the talents reveals how God judges faithfulness. He does not expect more of us than what He has gifted and enabled us to do, not to do  what He has gifted and equipped others to do.  Yet, each has equally valuable work to do for His pleasure.

That is wonderfully good news for you and me.  News that we are equally precious and valuable to Him.  We are equally useful in fulfilling His purpose and plan as well. But it also true that it is just as important to Him that we obey His call as it was for Jeremiah to.   But it might be as difficult for us to do so as it was for Jeremiah.  But in 100 years, it will be just as important to us if we are faithful too.

2/2/19                                            Staying Focused                                                     2 

Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and depart from evil.  Proverbs 3:7

RECOMMENDED READING: 2 Corinthians 10:1-11  “By the humility and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you—I, Paul, who am “timid” when face to face with you, but “bold” toward you when away! ² I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world.³ For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.⁴ The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. ⁵ We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. ⁶ And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete.⁷ You are judging by appearances.^[a] If anyone is confident that they belong to Christ, they should consider again that we belong to Christ just as much as they do. ⁸ So even if I boast somewhat freely about the authority the Lord gave us for building you up rather than tearing you down, I will not be ashamed of it. ⁹ I do not want to seem to be trying to frighten you with my letters. ¹⁰ For some say, “His letters are weighty and forceful, but in person he is unimpressive and his speaking amounts to nothing.” ¹¹ Such people should realize that what we are in our letters when we are absent, we will be in our actions when we are present.”

COMMENTS:  We have never heard Paul preach nor know what he looked like.   Scripture gives us a hint that he wasn’t tall or impressive in stature and today’s scripture hint Paul was bolder in writing than was in speech.  That may be Paul’s perception but I, for one, find it easier and more effective for me to write than to speak.  I tend to leave some thoughts out or forget when speaking that come more completely when writing, probably because it takes longer to write and can see as I write so have more opportunity to think  through and more completely logically.  That may be true of Paul and fortunate for us since we have a permanent record in our scripture of the letters he wrote to the churches he planted in Asia Minor during his ministry.  Each church had its own strengths and weaknesses, which John documented in Revelation.  So Paul’s letters written to some of these churches, John’s comments and insights help us understand the subject of Paul’s letters and insights Paul shares in those letters.    Well, Paul’s letters and John’s revelation are in our scripture because they were judged to accurately convey God’s intended message for the first century church but also for the church in every generation since.

Today’s scripture is a portion of Paul’s second letter written to the church in Corinth.  Paul is assuring them that the message he preached to them is identical to the message in his writings and message preached wherever he goes.  Paul was a profoundly effective and insightful as a preacher and as an author.  Paul, as Saul, was passionate and dangerous in persecution of the church, but Christ stopped that persecution by changing Saul into Paul instead of killing Saul as he deserved.  Why?  Because he loved even Saul so gave him the same opportunity for forgiveness and redemption that he gave all who heard the Good News.  Paul knew that and used that passion previously used to stop Christianity to spread this new faith and religion.  To try to convey this Good News to everyone everywhere. Paul could have remained Saul and faced God’s judgment.  He could have encountered Christ as his judge instead of as his Savior.  But then the letters Paul wrote would have been written by someone else.  But Christ knew Saul would repent and be transformed into Paul.      Who knows, Stephen may have been stoned to open the way for Paul’s ministry to come into focus.  We will not know until we enter heaven, but I wonder if Stephen would have been spared and taking up Paul’s ministry and writings if Paul would have refused Christ’s mercy?  I do not know what might or could have been.  But I’m sure Paul’s ministry and letters are in line with God’s Will and enlightened and gave opportunity to transform millions of that day.  Paul’s letters helped in that enlightenment but not exclusively.  The witness and example of Christians in the first century time of peril and persecution was hugely impactful in the epidemic transformation and spreading of Christ’s Good News in the hearts and minds and lives of millions of lost Jews and Gentiles during that time.  The impact of the lives of those early Christians not only powerfully impacted all they interacted with but was passed on from generation to generation.  Paul’s letters and recorded scripture passed on kept the message pure and unchanged from one generation to another.  Distortions of the Gospel developed and grew even in that day.  Paul even addressed such distortions in his letters and corrected such before damage was allowed to spread.   His letters continued to accomplish such generation after generation too.

But we must not forget to also give the Holy Spirit credit for keeping Christ’s message true and pure and unchanged too.  The Holy Spirit inspired and empowered Paul to preach and write and live.  The same Holy Spirit also inspired Peter and Timothy and Luke and Matthew and John and … all the other disciples and countless Jews and Gentiles also converted and filled with the same Holy Spirit.  The one thing they all had in common was surrendering to Christ’s call and obedience to His bidding.  We need do as much but no more too.

The key to godliness is not more knowledge but more obedience.  Woodrow Kroll

 

2/3/19                                    The Attitude of Christ                                        3

When [Jesus] saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.  — Matthew 9:36

COMMENTS:  Have you ever noticed just how much attitude influences and impacts how well and energetically and enjoyable and how well we accomplish tasks or obligations or not?    Even unpleasant tasks seem so much easier and more pleasant to accomplish when our attitude is good.  Well, isn’t it attitude that motivates us to put off unpleasant tasks or even pleasant tasks for people we consider unpleasant?  Experience may drive us to get unpleasant tasks done first and out of the way so we can better enjoy the more pleasant tasks.  Knowing unpleasant tasks tend to take longer than planned to accomplish than do pleasant tasks, so there is merit to doing unpleasant tasks first when more time is available.  Besides, looking forward to more pleasant tasks can motivate more energy and focus to complete unpleasant tasks more quickly.   Resisting temptations to take short cuts or herrings through more difficult portions of tasks is a risk that will result in loss time redoing or fixed improperly performed tasks or work. 

We have discussed our human inclinations and nature but let’s discuss our attitudes and what we can do to change our attitude.  “Mind over matter” is a familiar phrase identifying the ability to set our minds on a course of action and stay focused on that task until complete while ignoring or  refusing to submit to pain or distractions or emotions that hinder completion.  Jesus exampled a number of such instances to us.  Enduring starvation and pain and rejection and hatred and all the human weaknesses and temptations and emotions that flooded his soul while living here as a human are all demonstrated and recorded in scripture.   Jesus was a master at “mind over matter” while enduring all the human temptations and emotions and weaknesses and limit we all do.  

But Jesus also exampled something else far more powerful and effective than just “mind over matter”.  This empowered “mind over matter” to succeed in instances where success was impossible for humans.  Jesus chose to depend completely on this one source instead of His own divine attributes.  He walked away from His own divine attributes to depend on this one source, the same source available to you and me and all who will accept and use that source.  So what is that source and how did Jesus show us how to accept and use that source?   The source is a relationship with the Father that includes access and dependence of His Holy Spirit.   Jesus prayed frequently and continuously to the Father and His Holy Spirit abided in and with Jesus all the time.   When Jesus was discouraged or weak or tempted, He submitted to the Father and embraced the Holy Spirit.   He did so instead of tapping into the same divine attributes He already possessed as the Divine Son because He wanted to show what and how to do so.  He also chose to face His mission as a weak human and perfect sinless human required by God’s Law in order to take all our sins so we can all have forgiveness available and enjoy the eternal relationship with God as He intended for us.  Jesus not only showed us how to but also how effective doing so is. 

A true story was told recently shared of a successful young businessman who recently discovered just how unkind he is to employees and associates.  His discovery came after seeking God each night for a week to show him an area of disobedience he needed to repent of.  Prayer was motivated by David’s prayer recorded in Psalm 139:23-24 “²³ Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
²⁴ See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting...”   The response he received was an unsettling and unpleasant revelation of just how unkind he was especially in professional relationships.

So, what did he do? He tried to help a colleague who he knew was going through a crisis.   Spending time listening to him was lacking but needed.  That man responded by saying, “I think I might need to go to church with you.  I think I need some spiritual help.”   He did just that.   Conversations developed related to Jesus’ life and our purpose.  Within 3 months he accepted Christ and a transformation slowly but surely became evident both to him and then to others.

A noteworthy transformation also became evident to that businessman too along with a greater purpose and focus that came from that experience.  Both developed an “Attitude of Christ” instead of a selfish – self motivated attitude and purpose.  Their business goals weren’t what needed to change.  Most of what they did and who they interact with didn’t need to change.  But what did change related to the attitude they did such.  They gained a deeper interest in others and more naturally showed that interest in others and would be more willing to take a moment during the day to listen and show a caring attitude, gaining a better awareness of God’s nudging to do so during the day.  This became an effective way and opportunity to “Pray without Ceasing” we are called to do (1 Thess. 5:16-18).

That businessman also discovered another fringe benefit.  He discovered greater joy and efficiency in doing his job and work and greater wisdom and discerning in doing his work. 

So what does this devotion and example teach us?  I believe we would do well to pray David’s prayer too with an open and seeking heart. But also to seek God’s insights into times and places and even with certain people when we are unkind and ask what we need to do different.  Then, when we discover who we have been unkind to, hate do we need to do?  Will apologizing be a start, and what else will be needed and sustained to give credibility to and healing to that apology?

AMEN?  AMEN!

2/4/19                                              In the Zone                                                       4

You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You.  Isaiah 26:3

RECOMMENDED READING:  Isaiah 26:1-4  “In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: “We have a strong city; God will appoint salvation for walls and bulwarks.² Open the gates,That the righteous nation which keeps the truth may enter in.³ You will keep him in perfect peace,Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.⁴ Trust in the Lord forever,For in YAH, the Lord, is everlasting strength.”

COMMENTS:  Being and staying focused on tasks or goals or work is necessary for success and accomplishments.  This may be easy when doing short duration or more pleasant tasks but more difficult for long term or difficult or unpleasant tasks.  “Mind over matter” may work for short duration tasks but something more is needed for work with long range goals.   Yesterday we focused on discovering Jesus’ example and focusing on learning to “pray without ceasing” and learning to follow the Holy Spirit’s nudging voice.  Discovering how and who we are unkind and what to do different.

Today let’s focus on mental work or training we also need to do.  Kirk Cousins, as famous respected quarterback, who recently signed a three year $84M contract for the Minnesota Vikings football team, sought help from his coach to sharpen his mental focus abilities.  Knowing he is a “Star War movie buff”, the “brain coach” attached EEG monitor sensor wires to his brain and to a video player so player would stop when he lost mental focus.  He was training to gain and sustain “mental focus” or stay “in the zone” for longer periods of time.  The motivation to enjoy a movie he loved helped motivate him to learn to sustain this “in the zone” time.  Apparently it helped him achieve his goal and improve his game.

So what about us?  We desire to be more effective in obedience and service for Christ but struggle with distractions and fatigue and just life in general, right?  Well, what needs to change in us to make 2019 a more Christ centered and Christ like life lived than 2018 was?  How do we more successfully “pray without ceasing” in 2019 than we did in 2018?

Philippians 3:12-14 says: “I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.”

But instead of renting a EEG machine and connecting it to us and to a video machine playing our favorite movie, does God offer a better approach to improve our mental focus on listening to and obeying Him?   What are some things to consider?

1. Planning our day better setting aside prayer and meditation time for brief times but also several times during day. Then migrate to a quiet place away from distraction for that planned time.
2. Avoid starting new tasks as that time approaches and try to schedule so those times come at completion of tasks to avoid unnecessary conflict or distraction.
3. Give priority to those times with God but start out simple with an attainable and doable frequency and duration.
4. Seek an accountability partner who can help in scheduling as well as who you can answer to when start to fail or fall short.  A partner who will help with support and encouragement but also with suggesting to help you succeed.
5. Paste reminder notes in key areas with a meaningful scripture or word of encouragement.
6. Tell your wife and pastor what you are planning so they have opportunity to make suggestions or provide agreeable help too.
7. Set regular times to appraise progress and need for any course corrections.  A good time may be to start daily just before going to bed and then make adjustments as needed.
8. Set focus on removing unnecessary time consuming tasks like idle TV watching without a good program to watch or accessing phone texts or internet surfing without a specific need or purpose.

These are just a few ideas or suggestion to get you thinking, but the list needs to be your own and maybe should start out at least being a shorter list to not get overwhelmed or bogged down in what to do or not do.  

Remember, He keeps those in perfect peace whose minds are focused on Him.  Failure need not be a permanent destination, but a crossroads to access a different path. 

“We should invest our time, finances, and talents in the coming kingdom and focus on Christ as the center, source, and goal of our lives.”  Charles Swindol

2/5/19                                             “Priority Number One?”                                               5

RECOMMENDED READING: Luke 4:40-41a, 42-44 – Now when the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various diseases brought them to Him (Jesus), and He laid His hands on every one of them and healed them. And demons also came out of many, crying, “You are the Son of God!” … And when it was day, He departed and went into a desolate place. And the people sought Him and came to Him, and would have kept Him from leaving them, but He said to them, “I must preach the Good News of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose.” And He was preaching in the synagogues of Judea.

COMMENTS:  Jesus made Himself available to people in need, but those in need sought Him out too.  They knew He had the power and authority to meet their needs, which were real and overpowering.   Why did some have possessing evil spirits, others blind or deaf from birth, others crippled, still others sick and dying of disease….  Was their condition a result of their own sin or the sin of their parents?   Sin does have lingering consequences that can impact more than the guilty. All we need to do is look around us or even in our own families to realize just how common and true that is.  Are we suffering consequences of the sins of others?  Is there anyone suffering consequences from our sins?  But what about cancers and a variety of other diseases that come without any obvious sin, especially to infants?   Jesus’ response to the why question disciples asked related to a man blind from birth is noted in John 9:

John 9:1-8 “ As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. ² His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”³ “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. ⁴ As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. ⁵ While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”⁶ After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. ⁷ “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.”

Because we lived in a broken world because of satan’s temptations and influence and because sin entered the world by Adam & Eve’s sin and sins of every generation since, sickness and death and consequences of sin continue to affect everyone, including consequences of one’s own sins, including consequences of the sins of others, but also so God may be honored by a healing  either of a sickness in body or a sickness in spirit or both.

God does not will sickness and death, but allow them because he is just and must administer consequences for disobedience and sin.  But He is also a merciful God who is eager to forgive and heal when we accept His mercy and forgiveness and that healing. 

So we need to grow beyond the mentality of blaming God to praising and worshipping Him instead of accepting our problems and misery of enduring them.   Christ endured pain and misery far beyond our comprehension while also enjoying continual fellowship with the Father.  Only for a time we as that fellowship withheld, when He was carrying all our sins and God’s judgment – punishment required for our redemption.  

We need not endure separation from God for our sins.  Such is needless misery because Christ already paid that price and offers God’s fellowship and redemption so we can enjoy His fellowship just as Christ did while in human form on earth.

Consider those who standout in the midst of great suffering.    Joni Eareckson Tada is a well know example today.   She lives in constant pain as an aging paraplegic, who also endured cancer with all its painful treatments.  Yet her joy and love and Christ centered life stands out showing a joyous way to live beyond what most with strong healthy bodies ever do.

How is she able to achieve and sustain such a quality of life?  How is her husband, Ken Tada, able to care for her faithfully every day?   Truth is only by the discipline of maintaining a close relationship with Christ with prayer, and devotion to God’s Word, and close fellowship with other believers and body of Christ in worship.    Truth is, successfully doing so requires accepting the help of others and especially accepting all the help available for Christ, including the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit available 24x7x365.

When people sincerely sought Jesus, the found Him and were not disappointed.  Their needs were met, including the physical needs they came seeking help for, but spiritual needs they were not even aware they had.  God always offers and provide more than we ask.  He did so when living on earth and continues to do so in every generation since.  HE STILL DOES!!                                                                 THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, help me to treasure Your Good News and share it with others around me. Amen.

 

2/6/19                       Peace Always in Every Way                              6

May the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with you all. 2 Thessalonians 3:16

Recommended Reading: 2 Thessalonians 3:13-18  “¹³ But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good. ¹⁴ And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed. ¹⁵ Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.”

COMMENTS:  We all become discouraged at times.  Life is harder and more difficult than we expected or prepared for.  Why?  Well, in part because we don’t realize the magnitude of problems that sin causes.  Likewise, we don’t realize the complexity and time even God needs to heal the wounds that sin causes.  We don’t realize the complexity of how our lives and action intertwine with each other and other’s sin affects us and our them.  Likewise, the impact of repentance ripples through many lives but timing is affected by a willingness of others to embrace or resist those ripples.

Thomas Watson wrote, “If God be our God, He will give us peace in trouble. When there is a storm without, He will make peace within. The world can create trouble in peace, but God can create peace in trouble.”

I Thessalonians 5:23 “²³ May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴ The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.”

2 Thessalonians 3:16 “¹⁶ Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.”

Paul knew from experience that God gives inner peace in the midst of trouble.  He knew more trouble and was in the midst of great persecution of Christians at the hand of his own people as well as from the powerful Roman soldiers.  That made all the difference for him and the first century church and in every generation since.  Jesus either calms the storm or calms us as we go through the storm.

This world is full of distractions, distresses, and disasters. But there is a place of peace—it is in Him, and it is Him!

Stayed upon Jehovah, hearts are fully blest / Finding, as He promised, perfect peace and rest.
Frances Havergal, in her hymn “Like a River Glorious.”

2/7/19                                   Rest in Him                                                 7                   

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Matthew 11:28

Recommended Reading: Genesis 2:2-3 “^{1 2} And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. ³ Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.”

COMMENTS:  Genesis gives us instruction by example.  Work is essential for our well being but so is rest.  Genesis reveals the order and way God created the universe and everything in it, but greatest detail on order of the earth’s creation and everything in and on it.  God initially created out of nothing but then built on His creation from work already done.   He created a home for life before creating life.  He created everything needed to sustain life before He created life.  That meant creating gravity and air and   water and food and light before creating life.  That meant creating life that would be a source of food for more advanced life, including humans.  The logic and order of creation is evident in Genesis.

We may think creation was easy for God because He simply spoke everything into existence.   In our jobs, we may feel the same way about our boss because he tells us what to do without needing to do the work himself.  But God had to design and think through the order and method of creation.  Stop and think.  He started with nothing.  Consider what He then finished with.  Imagine how much better and more perfect His creation was before satan corrupted His creation with temptation and sin. 

But the restraints and limits God puts on satan does limit the destruction satan can do to His creation.  Otherwise, the world and everything on it would have been ruined and destroyed long ago.  Satan does not create but only destroys.  That is all he knows how to do and all he wants to do.

Well, all the work God did was wonderfully good.  At the end of each work day God took time to look at His work and judge how good it was.   He took time to both evaluate and enjoy what He accomplished.  He took time to enjoy what He created. 

Then, when His work was completed, He took an entire day to rest and enjoys His completed work.  His work was completed.  But then again, the t asks of maintaining His creation   had just begun.

What does the creation story teach us?  It should prove to us that a good design requires a skillful engineer, a skillful planner, and a skillful craftsman and builder.   Those who would teach evolution or creation without a creator is like teaching a car or house or a city could be built without intelligent skilled   engineers and craftsman.  Such is not logical nor realistic or truthful.    Scripture’s account of creation intends to prove to us God is real and is solely responsible for the planning and creation of us and the world we live in.    Scripture also tells us God is responsible and able and willing to sustain His creation.

God also shows us the proper way of doing productive work – work with a goal – work with a plan and logical sequence of steps – work with realistic expectation of progress each day – work that includes enjoying the process and enjoying the fruit of our labor.   Then to take time to rest from labor and enjoy completed work. 

God gave us the 10 Commandments to   give us a standard and guide of conduct, which included a command to take a day of rest, as He did.   Rest is not optional but a requirement.  God created us to need rest even before sin corrupted us and caused fatigue and age and weakness to all hinder and limit our ability to work. 

The interstate highway system used in the United States was first designed in Germany during late 1930’s, but was first introduced and began in USA in 1956.  Design was to simplify and enhance access to travel over long distances without delays and at greater safe speeds, enabling travelers to cover much greater travel distances each day.  At first businesses were not given access to travelers except at defined exit locations.   It wasn’t long before the necessity for more frequent rest stops                were added because of how weary and more prone to accidents travelers were becoming.   Bathroom breaks and distractions were (and still are) vital to avoid fatigue and dangers fatigue causes. 

If you ever traveled on an interstate highway, you know how important those rest stops are.  As I get older, I find a need for more frequent “rest stops”.  How about you?

Work has always brought a temptation to set unrealistic goals or an unrealistic time schedule to complete tasks.  Shortcutting rest is an easy solution but makes workers more vulnerable to make mistakes and becoming less efficient.  If allowed to continue, the result is work that must be redone and workers unable to do the repairs.   Bosses need to learn to properly treat and respect workers by providing necessary tools and rest and environment and training so work will be done in most efficient manner.

My working career was as an engineer.  My tasks including designing machinery for the underground mining industry and later to supervise other designers and drafters to create and draw plans so manufacturing employees could build that machinery.

But work and responsibility didn’t end there.  Instructing servicemen and end user on how to properly operate, properly maintain and repair that machinery was also necessary so customers would realize their work goals as well.   The entire process also provided opportunity to build working relationships with others built on trust and respect and sharing knowledge and experience.

Over time, I was able to develop some great friendships and given opportunities to share Christ and be encouraged and blessed by others as well as be a blessing to them.    Work became more than just earning a paycheck and satisfying employer requirements and expectations. Work became a field of ministry, which actually enhanced work efficiency.

Balance was important and respect for others, including those that did not share my Christian faith and world view, was a learning process.  The Holy Spirit revealed to me how and what battles to fight and what battles were not mine to fight. 

Yet, the Holy Spirit also provide insights into engineering ideas as well as relationship opportunities that was such a source of blessing and help along the journey too.   Rest and reflection gave needed rejuvenation too.   Even though retired, it still does.   Taking time to reflect and share in this journal during this morning’s devotion time brings joy and peace to my soul as I reflect on the working journey I have experienced and enjoyed.   Well, even as I recall the difficult challenges and problems also experienced during the jourey, I am still encouraged because of the help others and especially the help the Holy Spirit provided.  

I am, therefore, even more convinced God is the Greatest Inventor, the Greatest Designer, the Greatest craftsman, the Greatest Planner and Scheduler, the Greatest Supervisor, the Greatest Builder, the Greatest Friend and Co-Worker, ….  The list goes on and on. 

I learned early to see Christ is my employer instead of the boss or company I worked for.  The result was a greater motivation and desire to complete assigned work with greater passion and standards, but also to put forth greater effort to understand expectations of end user of my work.  That helps me over come disappointment and discouragement along the way too.   This approached also help when I felt overlooks for promotions or  raises.  Those promotions and salary raises did come and have no complaints, even though now and again it seems others progressed ahead of me.  But I now realize such feelings were selfish and God’s timing  was better than my expectations.

Have you accepted Jesus’ invitation to enjoy eternal rest in Him? His spiritual rest is never-ending and always available.        

“Our rest lies in looking to the Lord, not to ourselves.”  Watchman Nee

 

2/8/19                                       Conforming or Transforming?                          8 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2 

 

COMMENTS:  In today’s workplace it is becoming more unpopular and difficult to maintain a high standard of conduct and integrity and character.  Shortcuts and compromise of that standard is always under attack from pressures of conformity and popularity and reducing costs and overhead and meeting work and productivity schedules and goals.                                               

“Character is always lost when a high ideal is sacrificed on the altar of conformity and popularity.” —Charles Spurgeon

Well, there are choices and balance we are forced to make during our days.  Which battles are necessary and which should be postponed or diverted.  Creating or accelerating conflict vs. creating peace.   Some seem to enjoy creating conflict.  But we aren’t called to create conflict but instead to be a light s showing a better way to live and a better standard of conduct to chose.

We are living in a world where Christianity and associated world view is becoming less respected.   But along with that lack of respect is a deteriorating respect for Christ inspired integrity and character valued more in previous generations.   But honesty and a strong work ethic is still valued as important standard for doing business and being competitive in the workplace.  At least it still does with reputable businesses.   Time will tell if that standard survives in coming years. 

In the meantime, we must chose if we will.   But we are called to live as Christ, to be an example worthy to follow, not an example of what not to do or be.   Popular or not, you and I will be held accountable for how well we did or didn’t example Christ’s standard.  God is merciful but we do each have a calling and responsibility to be a Christ follower.   The cost is much greater to not be a good example than cost to conform to the world’s standard.   Years pass so quickly and won’t be long before death or Christ’s return will bring reality to what the world values, and to us too. 
“…Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.” (Philippians 4:8)

Pier pressure for our children in schools is also attacking Christ-centered integrity and world view.  A recent example is told of a literature teacher at her Christian college was constantly putting down Christian authors and their books, and encouraging the students to read “good” literature instead.                    

Truth is, without God established the standard for “right”and “wrong”, so without that standard, there is no solid and accurate way to judge, so standard will change and deteriorate with mood and climate of those who force their own standard on others.  A Christian standard is not forcing personal values on others.  It is recognizing the only true and sustainable standard tried and proven from ancient times to present.

So let’s commit to live with honesty and integrity, keeping our word and being dependable and trustworthy.  Using Christ as our example and not someone more popular who follows the world’s standard.   We may be less popular and less successful in the world’s eyes but we will be successful and popular in God’s eyes and will be glad we were 100 years from now or 50 years from now and maybe even before 2019 is history.  When we face death or Christ’s return, which will be when we will be glad.  AMEN?  AMEN!

     
2/9/19                                      Called to Love with Humility                         9                   

Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.   John 13:1

Recommended Reading: John 17:26   “²⁶ And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them..”

COMMENTS:  Loving with humility is demonstrated many different ways, but always puts other’s welfare ahead of self. When something is said or done that hurt another, either thoughtlessly or out of anger or other strong negative emotion, the response should be quick to sincerely apologize reinforced with not only asking for forgiveness but active efforts to correct wrong in all ways possible.  But when hurt is intentional, than a deeper change needs to happen because God’s humbling love is not residing in the soul.   Christ’s example was not intended to overwhelm by setting an example so far above us and beyond our ability to achieve.  His example is intended to show us how to love and where to go for help to find such love and learn how to receive and practice such love.  For Christ to need and access help and fellowship through the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit, while living as a human on earth, shows us the importance and need we have to seek and access the Holy Spirit’s help as well.  As we look at how the early Christians lived and demonstrated that love, we discover the difference the Holy Spirit has made since Pentecost in transforming the lives of any and all who simply accept Christ’s redemption and let the Holy Spirit into their lives and souls.  

Have you let the Holy Spirit into your life too?  When you pray, are you aware and open to letting the Holy Spirit guide your prayers and thinking?  The more we study and understand how Christ and what motivated and encouraged Him, and then we begin to understand what needs to change in us.

  The world defined and demonstrates love by selfish sexual indulgences, but Christ demonstrated love by unselfish acts of sacrifice.  During Christ’s last day, he submitted to washing his disciple’s feet.  He was with His disciples almost constantly with the exception of private alone time in prayer with the Father.    The world would have us indulge ourselves in creating a “bucket list” of selfish goals we want to meet before we die and work off that list.  But Christ showed us how to love sacrificially and unselfishly without the goal or expectation of reward or payment from the receiver or even from God.  To love without condition or expectation but simply as a way of loving and showing gratitude and love to God.  Unselfish humble love requires unconditional trust in God to provide for our needs and being grateful for how He chooses to provide and when.  If that provision comes later than we like or not at all this side of the grave, do we trust Him enough to continue to love   anyway knowing God’s ways are best for us and for those we love and will be resolved one day in heaven if not before. 

Let’s remember:

1. Love each other unconditionally without condition of love in return. Love as a choice out of obedience and love and trust in Christ.  Love because He first loved and continues to love us.  Love simply because He asked us to.
2. His love was demonstrated to us by His example and life, but His greeted demonstration was by His painful and humiliating death. He chose to die in our place bearing our guilt and shame. Our sins were exposed on Him instead of on us.   If He did nothing else for us that should be sufficient motivation to love as He loved. 
3. But He not only sacrificed His life as payment and punishment for our sins, but He provides His Holy Spirit to abide with, have fellowship 24x7x365 with us. He also is building and preparing an eternal home for us and new perfect eternal bodies for us to occupy.  But even more important, the promise of that home being with Him and with our loved ones also redeemed for eternity.
4. Can you imagine the reunion with those who went home before us? Can you imagine fellowshipping and sharing with all the saints of old from our own families and from history and from scripture?   We will enjoy all that and far more.  If that isn’t enough motivation and incentive to strive to live a Christ-like life and surrender to His helping hands, than I don’t know what will be sufficient incentive.

There are many grand ways to demonstrate love. But none is more powerful than the humility of a willing servant.

The surest mark of true conversion is humility.  J. C. Ryle

 

2/10/19                             “Away from Us!” the demon cried                                   10  

“‘Away from us!’ the demon cried, When Christ, the Lord, drew near.

Recommended Reading  Mark 1:23-26-28  ““And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, ‘What have You to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God.’ But Jesus rebuked him, saying, ‘Be silent, and come out of him!’ And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him.  And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, ‘What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.’ And at once His fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee”                           COMMENTS: Satan has a sinister and skillful way of  entering places we occupy and seek shelter in from him.  He doesn’t stay just where he has defeated us.  He isn’t satisfied to stay there, but spreads his evil mischief into other area.  Consider evil leaders like Nebuchadnezzar  and Hitler. They were not satisfied to rule over their own people and birth country.  They had their sights on world conquest and reigned destruction and misery and death and their world view and will on the people they conquered.  They forced themselves on them and forced them into compliance.  They were influenced by satan and demonstrated  his inspired evil in the way they ruled and conquered.  BUT THEY WERE DEFEATED BY GOD AND THOSE W HO FOLLOWED HIM.  For Nebuchadnezzar it was Daniel who showed him God and God who humbled him to the point of repentance.  For Hitler defeat was his end and surrender. 

We are told satan will also be defeated and his future is eternal judgment with his followers.   God and evil cannot rule the same place.  God will not tolerate evil where He reigns.   Either He will rule or evil will rule in His absence.  Hitler chose evil.  Nebuchadnezzar chose evil until humbled enough to choose God.  His life changed and his rule changed from then on.  He then knew the God that Daniel served and had demonstrated to him for many years. Nebuchadnezzar and Hitler may have started down the same sinful path raining death and terror on all in their path.  But Hitler stayed on that path to it’s end of judgment and eternal damnation with the devil he served.  Nebuchadnezzar’s destination changed simply by repenting and  turning to Daniel’s God and following Him.    
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, the works of Jesus that stupefied the world around Him were nothing compared to His ultimate victory over sin, death, and the devil. Grant us faith to follow and courage to listen to Your Son. In His Name we pray. Amen.

2/11/18                                                The Throne of Grace                                          11   

“ ²² This righteousnessis given through faith in^[a] Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, ²³ for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ²⁴ and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. ²⁵ God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement,^[b] through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith.” Romans 3:22-25

Recommended Reading:  Hebrews 4:14-16 “¹⁴ Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven,^[a] Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. ¹⁵ For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. ¹⁶ Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

COMMENTS:  Jesus came to earth as a human without all His divine attributes – fully reliant on the Father.  Yet, He came to be our perfect sin sacrifice, our perfect High Priest, our perfect advocate to the Father, our perfect example of how we should live, our perfect teacher, our perfect friend and so much more.  Yet since His death and resurrection, He returned to heaven to build and prepare a perfect home for us and one day will return to take us home and then return to bind and imprison satan and restore the earth to the perfect state God intended at creation.   Christ then will be our perfect king and ruler. 

“There is no deeper love, Scripture tells us, than a man who gives up his life for a friend” (John 15:13).

Jesus went even farther—dying for us while we were still His enemies (Rom. 5:10).

 

2/12/18                                     “Unfinished Business”                                                     12

Psalm 138:8a – The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me

RECOMMENDED READING: Psalm 138:7, “Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You preserve my life; You stretch out Your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and Your right hand delivers me.”

COMMENTS:  David knew God promised him the throne of Israel but he was at the brink of death many times during reign of King Saul, who sought to kill him.  He had all the military resources of Israel to track down David.  David had a number of opportunities to kill Saul but refused, saying he had no right to kill the Lord’s anointed.  But then again, Saul didn’t have the right to kill David either since David was also the Lord’s anointed.   David couldn’t do anything about that other than flee Saul’s attempts.  When David proved to Saul he had opportunity and refused to take it, Saul would repent of his pursuit but soon would be filled with jealousy toward David again and be overcome again with the urge to kill David.

Saul lost his favor with God because he lacked patience waiting for Samuel to do sacrifice before battle and took it upon himself to do the sacrifice.  Saul knew how to do the ceremony of sacrifice.  He had seen it done many times.  But he knew he was not qualified or worthy to do it.  The devil tempted him the same way he tempted Cain to do an unholy sacrifice and then tempted him in like manner to kill David as Cain killed Abel.  God judged Saul severely as he judged Cain for his sin.   If either would have repented and pleaded to God sincerely for mercy, the story may have ended differently for Cain and for Saul.  But neither did.  They only regretted getting caught and punished.

David did an equally evil sin in committing adultery with Bathsheba and murdering her husband.  He didn’t start out intended to do so, but Cain and Saul didn’t either.   David didn’t repent either until Nathan confronted him.  The difference was David sincerely repented.   That made the difference and God forgave him.   He still faced some consequence but not to the degree he would have and still preserved his place in eternity.

We all have unfinished business with God until we accept His gift of salvation.  The struggle to surrender to God’s Will doesn’t end with accepting Christ but it does start there.  Not until we accept His gift do we start having a 2 way relationship with Him.  Until then our relationship with Him is only one way.   We lack the fellowship and 2 way conversation and love expression and trust that He desires and paid so much to provide. 

Christians are a “work in progress”, not perfect but progressing toward that goal.   Not sinless but forgiven.  Not doing God’s Will fully but obedient to Him more today than yesterday. Salvation is not earned but accepted as a gift without cost.  Then the process begins of making us and becoming more Christ-like and less satan-like.   So why doesn’t God make us perfect at salvation?  Why aren’t we perfect like Christ from that day forward? 

Ephesians 2:10  “¹⁰ For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works,which God prepared in advance for us to do”   God values and respects our privilege to choose.  Even ore especially after accepting Christ, we still have freedom to choose wisely or foolishly.   We still have ability to sin and still face temptations.  Often more so since satan is threatened when we let Christ into our lives.   But once we have Christ on our side and in our camp, we have so many more resources and tools available to us.  We have an army of angels available to us and the Holy Spirit available to guide and council and strengthen us.  To walk with and protect us each step of the way.

So that poses another question.  Is it possible to live a perfect life? Has anyone other than Christ done so?   We can debate the answers but my understanding and belief is both answers are no.  Why?   Well, first of all we have limited comprehension of what a perfect life is.  Truth is God is so far (infinitely) above us as well as Christ’s example and we can’t achieve by choice what we can’t comprehend.  Satan’s influence and deceptive work continues for the believer after salvation.  

The other point is salvation is not the destination God designed for us but the beginning of a journey His Will guides us on.  A journey to heaven and achieving then the goal of perfection without satan’s influence.   A journey of building relationship with God, a journey of discovering what God is like and discovering new insights into God’s perfect attributes and perfect character.

God’s guiding Spirit and Word led us to good works, not to earn salvation or God’s favor but as a response of praise and worship and gratitude for what He has already done.  Works done with joy motive by a desire to do so and a desire to bless and encourage others to discover and go on the same journey of faith too.   Love is a far greater motivator than obligation, which  empowers and increases greater opportunity for success in “good works” and success toward living a more perfect and Christ-like life. 

All other world religions teach salvation or redemption or achieving eternal life by earning favor through good works.  That is mentality human thinking comprehends while Christ’s sacrifice and plan of redemption continues to be beyond human comprehension.   That difference is enough to provide Christianity is not a human invention and all other religions are. 

John 14:6 tells us Christ is the only way to the Father and to heaven.  Countless other verses also confirm this truth.  For those who claim Christ is one way to heave n but only one of many by many different religions and world views.   Is believing that Christ is the only way to heaven being closed minded or intolerant?  The word “intolerant” has become a political word that has become a weapon to institute attacks against individuals or groups.   For Christians to believe and state that Christ is God’s Son, divine, and the only way to heaven is not being closed minded or intolerant.  

Would we be intolerant to say all roads do not lead to New York City?  Truth is, a map or GPS provides the accurate standard to gage right roads from wrong roads.  The Bible is such a standard to gage.   For those who don’t believe that or believe the Bible is God’s inspired Word, they have freedom to deny that, but that doesn’t change the Bible being God’s inspired Word.  There is ample proof it is indeed that.

So what will you believe?  Will you believe God’s Word or not?  Our culture is making it increasingly more difficult to be a Christian and increasingly less popular.  Well, we need to prepare ourselves to face increasing sacrifice and persecution for our faith.  We need to prepare our families too.  The day is coming when, like first Century times, when being a devout Christian will be a death sentence and to escape that sentence will mean either be in hiding or denying Christ.  So we need to rediscover history and study the stories of Christians of that era in scripture while seeking a closer relationship with Christ so we will be prepared and remain faithful when that time comes.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I am trusting You alone to finish the unfinished business of my life in Christ and fulfill Your purpose for me. Amen.

2/13/19                               Going With The Flow                                        13      

The Lord is my shepherd. . . . He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.  Psalm 23:1-2

 Recommended Reading: ISAIAH 40:11 “ See, the Sovereign Lord comes with power, and he rules with a mighty arm.See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him.¹¹ He tends his flock like a shepherd  He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.”

COMMENTS: Satan has a skillful but deceptive way of fooling the world to thinking he is right and God is wrong and impotent.  Unwilling or unable to defeat satan or stop him.  BUT GOD IS STILL ON HIS THRONE AND WARNS US IN HIS WORD THAT ONE DAY SOON CHRIST WILL RETURN TO BIND SATAN, JUDGE THE WORLD, AND RESTORE THE WORLD TO  THE PERFEC T PLACE HE CREATED AND RULE OVER IT.  SATAN WILL BE JUDGED ALONG WITH HIS DEMONS AND ALL WHO FOLLOWED HIM.

James 4:6 says that God gives grace to the humble but resists the proud. Pride is the sin that caused Lucifer to descend from favor and be rejected from heaven along with angels who followed him.  Pride is the sin that creates a barrier between God and humans,       which opens those so inflicted to satan’s other temptations and evil influence.  The humble are more open and willing to accept God’s Grace, God’s mercy, and God’s Spirit.  The humble are more Christ-like and more compassionate toward others.  The humble have a more servant attitude and realize their own failings and weaknesses and benefits of seeking and receiving God’s help to overcome them.

When life gets challenging, check to see if you are following God or not. Even if He leads us into a storm, as long as He is there we can be at rest (Mark 4:37-41).

“It costs to follow Jesus Christ, but costs more not to. “  Anonymous

 

2/14/19                                        What God Sees                                    14                                                      He hangs the earth on nothing.    Job 26:7

Recommended Reading  1 Peter 1:13-15  “¹³ Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; ¹⁴ as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; ¹⁵ but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,”

COMMENTS:  Take notice of insight of Job’s words above.  Job is the oldest book in scripture, written about 400 years before Moses.  Outer space and how the planets revolve around the sun was all a mystery.  It was not known space was a vacuum without air or warmth or anything.  But note Job 26:7 noting the Earth is suspended in “nothing”.  An insight man could not know but God did because He created everything.   God had to reveal this to the author of Job long before scientists or philosophers had a clue.  But those of u s, who believe the Bible is God’s inspired Word to us, shouldn’t be surprised or amazed at such clues and revelations.

Other examples, Isaiah 40:22 refers to the earth being a circle or “round” instead of flat as was believed for many centuries until last 500 years.   Well, God didn’t intend for scripture to be a book of science but a book to show man what God is like and how to be in relationship with Him.  The bible is a guide to live by applicable from Adam through present until His return.  So we have limited evidence proving the Bible supports known science.  But we also need to realize accepted science of medieval times has been proved false in more recent years.  That said, science continues to make progress in discovery – changing perception and understanding.  Instances where science appears to conflict with scripture like creationism vs. evolution is slowly being resolved as flaws in the theory of evolution are discovered and brought to light.  Evolution was embraced as a way of attacking validity of scripture and justifies humanistic beliefs.   The scientific community and public educators all have embraced the “Theory of Evolution” as proven fact and science instead of what it is by definition: Only a theory and one interpretation archeological finds.   Scripture is clear that God created the universe and all planets and life.    The complexity and order of life and all on the world and entire universe shouts the perfect and overwhelming intelligence and wisdom and logical thinking and skillful design and skillful builder God, as creator used.  To believe such order and complexity happened by chance, as evolution teaches, requires more faith than believe God created such order.  Scientific logic and methods disprove evolution if used in an unbiased way to prove.

But most of the world still embraces evolution.  Why? Because to believe any other explanation than evolution would admit God exists and has power and authority over us.

Simon Peter wrote, “With minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed” (1 Peter 1:13, NIV).

So, let’s stop fighting or denying God and begin seeking Him and following His teachings and doing what He asks.  Stop blaming others or even God for our problems and take ownership of them and seek God’s help to resolve them.  He is there patiently waiting and willing to help, but waiting for us to ask for His help.

Take note of Jim Irwin’s words and significance for him to say Christ walking on earth has greater significance than man walking on the moon.

“The entire space achievement is put in proper perspective when one realizes that God walking on the earth is more important than man walking on the moon.”                                      James Irwin, astronaut

 

2/15/19                                           Behind the Hearth                 15            Is not My word like a fire?   Jeremiah 23:29

RECOMMENDED SCRIPTURE READING:  Jeremiah 20:7-13  “ O Lord, You induced me, and I was persuaded;You are stronger than I, and have prevailed.I am in derision daily; Everyone mocks me.⁸ For when I spoke, I cried out;I shouted, “Violence and plunder!”Because the word of the Lord was made to meA reproach and a derision daily.⁹ Then I said, “I will not make mention of Him, Nor speak anymore in His name.”But His word was in my heart like a burning fireShut up in my bones;I was weary of holding it back,And I could not.¹⁰ For I heard many mocking:“Fear on every side!”“Report,” they say, “and we will report it!”All my acquaintances watched for my stumbling, saying,“Perhaps he can be induced;Then we will prevail against him, And we will take our revenge on him.”¹¹ But the Lord is with me as a mighty, awesome One.Therefore my persecutors will stumble, and will not prevail.They will be greatly ashamed, for they will not prosper.Their everlasting confusion will never be forgotten.¹² But, O Lord of hosts,You who test the righteous,And see the mind and heart,Let me see Your vengeance on them;For I have pleaded my cause before You.¹³ Sing to the Lord! Praise the Lord! For He has delivered the life of the poorFrom the hand of evildoers.”

COMMENTS:  You and I are living in a war zone. Our earth is a battle zone. Our enemy is satan who is doing all he can to hinder God’s Work and Will and to keep us from a relationship with Christ.  He does this by distracting us from Him and tempting us to sin. The news is full of his mischief and our communities, our families, and even our churches.  Why?   Because even forgiven Christians fail to sustain a close relationship with Christ and are easily distracted by temptation and problems.  It takes discipline to focus on Christ.   Like Peter walking on water toward Christ.  He was secure as long as he kept his eyes on Christ, but sank when looked at the storm.  He failed to stay focused on Christ.   So do we too. 

Pilgrim’s Progress was written by Paul Bunyan in 1672 while he was in prison. Imprisoned for preaching the Gospel. The established church was corrupt and self serving.   Church leadership had become like the Jewish leadership of Christ’s day.

But the journey Christian experienced in Bunyan’s book reflects and journey every Christian faces, both in Bunyan’s time and especially today. 

 

It seems like evil is getting stronger and good is getting weaker.  Is evil winning the battle over good?  Is satan winning?  Well, remember Rome seemed to win for awhile.   Hitler was successful for a short time.   Evil has a brief time of success but never ends well.  Good, by contrast, often does not show benefit or success for awhile but will eventually.   Why is that?  Maybe because God tests us to be faithful to Him and trust Him and not just responding to “the path of least resistance” or just taking the easiest path.  Difficult paths require determination and will to succeed.          Difficult paths require dependence on others.  They build strength and character.  They help give preparation for even more difficult paths.    But most of all, such paths help train us to rely on and trust Christ in much deeper and surrendered ways.

 

The journey Christian took in Pilgrim’s Progress built strength – built character – built a deeper relationship and dependence and love for Christ.  A journey that also built greater discernment and strength to recognize and reject satan’s temptations and snare designed to entrap and weaken, not strengthen.  

 

 

By studying the journey of those before us, we learn from  their experience.  We too learn how to discern evil snares and temptations, we learn how to access and enjoy fellowship with the Holy Spirit  as a powerful resource to keep us on path, we are energized and inspired by their successful journey completion, we are drawn to Christ and gain trust and inspired to love Him  too. 

Christ promised to never leave or forsake us.  The Holy Spirit came with assurance to be our guide and comforter and helpmate 24x7x365 without fail or break.  As we look at Christ followers of past and present, we gain confidence of a successful destination and faithful help by Christ to that destination.  They did not have an easy path but a path worth taking. But like them, we need to make sure our hearts are always blazing with fresh truths and nourishment from God’s Word.

“No word ever spoken by God to His own was ever yet broken; ‘Tis firm as His throne.”
Leander W. Munhall, hymnist

 

 

2/16/19                                       The Delightful Life                                                       16     

The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way.  Psalm 37:23
RECOMMENDED READING:  Psalm 37:4-23  “⁴ Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.⁵ Commit your way to the Lord,Trust also in Him,And He shall bring it to pass.⁶ He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light,And your justice as the noonday.⁷ Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him;Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.⁸ Cease from anger, and forsake wrath;Do not fret—it only causes harm.⁹ For evildoers shall be cut off;But those who wait on the Lord,They shall inherit the earth.¹⁰ For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more;Indeed, you will look carefully for his place,But it shall be no more.¹¹ But the meek shall inherit the earth,And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.¹² The wicked plots against the just,And gnashes at him with his teeth.¹³ The Lord laughs at him,For He sees that his day is coming. ¹⁴ The wicked have drawn the swordAnd have bent their bow,To cast down the poor and needy,To slay those who are of upright conduct.¹⁵ Their sword shall enter their own heart,And their bows shall be broken.¹⁶ A little that a righteous man hasIs better than the riches of many wicked.¹⁷ For the arms of the wicked shall be broken,But the Lord upholds the righteous.¹⁸ The Lord knows the days of the upright,And their inheritance shall be forever.¹⁹ They shall not be ashamed in the evil time,And in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.²⁰ But the wicked shall perish;And the enemies of the Lord,Like the splendor of the meadows, shall vanish.Into smoke they shall vanish away.²¹ The wicked borrows and does not repay,But the righteous shows mercy and gives.²² For those blessed by Him shall inherit the earth,But those cursed by Him shall be cut off.²³ The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord,And He delights in his way.”

COMMENTS:   We live in an evil world bent on ignoring or denying God and determined to follow unrestrained evil thoughts and actions.  Prophecy tells us in the last days men will only think and do evil unrestrained and without pause.  It is becoming more evident evil is getting worse and good is becoming less popular and admired.   Increasingly, those who do good and especially those who do so honoring Christ.  But it is becoming more and more evident that good deeds done without ulterior motives are more commonly only done by faithful Christians and less commonly by non-Christians.  Granted, there are still plenty of exceptions, so there is hope that a general sense of right and wrong in society is still having affect.  But it is becoming weaker with time and a moral compass based on the 10 commandments is becoming less clear and accepted especially by younger generations coming of age.  Again, 2 Timothy 3:1-17.  I invite you to read this scripture and decide if these verses are not describing today’s news in every community. 

So what are we to do? 2 Chronicles 7:14 tells us the only cure and solution.  It is to confess and repent of our sins and begin obeying His commands and following His council.  The longer we put off doing that, the worse the consequences and the difficulty doing so gets harder because more and more of the population will not desire to repent nor think they are the problem. They will blame everyone else and even focus on blaming Christians, who are the only ones who have the solution. 

So if you believe in Christ, believe the Bible is God’s Holy Word, you have a responsibility and a mission.  If you do not, you are the mission field. 

But God doesn’t want us to be condemned or miserable.  He wants us to have joy and peace and fulfillment and live productive lives.  He doesn’t want us deprived and miserable, but fulfilled and fully enjoying life.   Suffering does not come from Christ but from satan and consequences of his sinister mischief and work.   He has a cunning way of blaming God for his own acts.  He wants us to believe God wants us miserable and suffering while he wants us to have fun and happiness.  That couldn’t be farther from the truth.  But God does want us to follow Him and trust Him because we choose to and want to, but out of intimidation or being compelled or by deception as satan does.  Satan knows we would never follow him if saw him as he is.   But God will not force us to follow Him.  We must come to Him by our own free will.  But His offer is still available and in force.  One day He will return to end satan’s reign and influence and bring justice and judgment on him and all who followed him.  What a day that will be for those who chose to follow Christ and accept His Mercy.  I have mixed emotions.  On one hand I can’t wait until He comes, but on the other hand I want Him to wait for more family and friends and neighbors who still haven’t accepted Christ and are still lost.

AMEN?  AMEN!

 “Christ [is] the very essence of all delights and pleasures, the very soul and substance of them.”
John Flavel

 

 

 

2/17/19                                      Draw Near to God                                    17       “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” James 4:8

 

Recommended Reading: James 4:1-8 “What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? ² You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. ³ When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

⁴ You adulterous people,^[a] don’t you know that friendship with the worldmeans enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. ⁵ Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us^[b]? ⁶ But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:

“God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”^[c]

⁷ Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. ⁸ Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

COMMENTS: Today’s scripture from James 4 is an important reminder to everyone, non-Christian, a recent convert, and a Christian of many years.  We all are so prone to wonder from a close fellowship with Christ and rely more on our own mind and abilities and emotions to guide our words and actions.  Most of the time we may seem to get away with it and many have for many years.  But the longer we do that, the further from His side and influence we stray and the more unlike Him we slowly but surely are.   So when we face a major decision or challenge, we are unprepared and are vulnerable to make a foolish or sinful and destructive choice. 

Fellowship with Christ is Fellowship with the Holy Spirit is Fellowship with the Father.  When we have fellowship with One, we have Fellowship with All.  When we let the Holy Spirit abide in and with us guiding us and nudging us and helping us make wise choices, we let Christ and the Father do so too.    Yet, the Holy Spirit is Who came at Pentecost to abide in each believer and become the real abiding presence of God fellowshipping with and guiding each believer with focus without rest or pause or distraction.   Access to God is through the Holy Spirit’s abiding presence in our souls.   We can’t see Him but we can feel His Presence.   We can’t hear Him, but we can hear what He is saying to us.  We can’t touch Him, but we can feel His presence.    We can’t embrace Him, but we can feel His compassion and love and respond back with love and awe and worship to Him.  Yet the purpose of the Holy Spirit’s abiding presence is to help us focus on Christ and give honor and worship and praise to Him.    The Holy Spirit enables us to be as close to Christ as the disciples were and be instructed by Him as they were.   But truth is, after receiving the Holy Spirit; even the disciples were emboldened and better prepared to do His Work than they were even during the 3 years of being with Christ.  SO ARE WE!! 

• We serve Him because we love Him, not because we are obligated or required to earn the reward of heaven.
• We serve Him because we are following His instruction made clearer because He is with us guiding and speaking to us all the time.
• We serve Him because He has changed us to want to.
• We serve Him because it is a far better life we choose.
• We serve Him because it provides a way to share this Good News and Gospel with others. Others He gives us a compassion for.
• We serve Him because we were designed to do so.

Well, this list could go one for volumes, but I’ll leave it there for now. When our priority and passion becomes drawing closer to Christ, we soon discover our priorities change.  What we consider most important and most urgent begins to change.  We also begin discovering that putting Him first and priority of focusing on fellowship with Him first each day, we soon realize that the rest of the day goes far better, things get done, but opportunities to brighten another’s day becomes a reality too. 

I too am still discovering this but still struggle sustaining a meaningful relationship with Christ, struggling to maintain fellowship with the Holy Spirit.  That is not God’s fault.  It is mine because it still is hard praying and listening without seeing Him with my eyes and hearing Him with my ears.  Besides, so much of what He asks me to do is not what I want to do or feel I need to do first.  I suspect you so struggle like me too, right?

Well, He knows and He understands.  But He doesn’t let us off the hook because He loves and cares for us.  He so desires for us to grow and become more like Him because He knows we will be happier and stronger and successful and more full of life when we do become more like Him.  He also knows others will be influenced by the change in us and do so too.

So let’s ask ourselves, what changes do we need to make? What priority changes do we need to make?  What needs to change and how do we change to draw closer to Him and be in a more meaningful and consistent relationship with Him?

Draw near to Him!  Draw near to the Holy Spirit!  Draw near to Christ!  Draw near to the Father!    HE WILL DRAW NEAR TO YOU!! 

 

 

2/18/19                                Without Waivering                                            18    

Imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.  Hebrews 6:12

RECOMMENDED READING: Hebrews 6:9-12  “⁹ But, beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this manner. ¹⁰ For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister. ¹¹ And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, ¹² that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”

COMMENTS:  Who do you admire most and wish you were like? Who had the most impact on you?  As we grow up role models change and the store house of good and bad role models grow.  My parents were my first role models.  I had a number of teachers (both in school and in church) who were good role models.  I can recall 3 pastors especially who have been good role models for me.  One especially was the pastor of my wife’s church in time when we were dating and in early years of marriage.  One life verse especially important to me (Jeremiah 33:3) was on a card he gave us at our marriage.  He had a beautiful base voice and sang at our wedding.  My wife’s twin’s husband was the pastor who married us, but Rev. Ruggles was the pastor who sang at our wedding and ministered to us in those early years.  We chose my church to be our home church since in the town we have lived for 40 years and have had a good number of pastors who have impacted our family positively too.

Arlene’s parents are among those who greatly impacted me too.   Granted, Christ is our perfect example and most impactful role model, but does help to have a few models in the flesh impacting us at key times in our lives.

Hebrews 10:32-36 reminds us to reflect on difficulties of life we have enduring and continue to endure and reflect on how God has provided and has put key people in our lives to aid us as well as aiding us Himself.  Perseverance is key, but encouragement of others is so important.  Such reflection also reminds us to so encourage and mentor others too. 

God promises to:

• Care for us. Hebrews 7:25 “²⁵ Therefore he is able to save completely^[a] those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.”
• Hebrews 10:37 “³⁷ For, In just a little while,
  he who is coming will come
  and will not delay.”^[a]
• Give us His Company. Hebrews 13:5 “Keep your lives free from the love of moneyand be content with what you have, because God has said, Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

Hebrews 10:23 says, “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.”   

Hebrews reminds us to live by faith, following the example of those before us to followed His instruction before seeing evidence or fruit.  The fruit came but not until walking the path for a time only guiding by faith. 

Hebrews 10:38  ““But my righteous^[a] one will live by faith.  And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back.”

Each book of the bible shares God’s promises applicable to that time as well as our time.  Promises that apply then to needs of those of that time as well as to you and me today.   Promises that will equally apply to us in the future and those living in the future, even those not yet born today.

 “Stand fast, without wishing for another trust, and without wavering in the trust you have.”
Charles Spurgeon

2/19/19                                True Love Demonstrated by Sacrifice                    19                   

Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.  John 15:13

RECOMMENDED READING: Romans 12:1  ^“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service”

COMMENTS:  Old Testament identifies sacrifice as killing an unblemished – acceptable animal to take punishment for sins.   New Testament identifies Christ as our perfect sacrifice taking the punishment for our sins.  Christ exampled for us the perfect – ultimate sacrifice that was undeserved but motivated out of His love for us.

But there are plenty of examples of sacrificial love all around us if we take time to notice. Parents sacrificing time and money for their children providing homes and meals and clothes and security of a stable family setting but most of all love. 

The Twin Towers on 911 was a time of many firefighters and even co-workers sacrificing their lives in order to safe another. 

What about the individuals who give up a kidney or part of their liver or a lung in order to provide a needed part for a family member.  Then, what about those who do so for someone they don’t even know?  What inspires or motivates someone to make great sacrifices for others they don’t even know?  It is one thing to do so for a parent or a child or for a brother or sister or for a best friend, but something else to do so for another in need with no personal connecting relationship.

Jesus illustrated Christ-like love with the parable of the “Good Samaritan” told to us (Luke 10:25-37) illustrating call to see people as He sees them, both like minded people and even enemies or those we do not like or even hate.  Christ showed great compassion toward children but also to harlots and Roman soldiers and Samaritans.  He showed great compassion to pagans as well as Jews.   He died on the cross for the sins of everyone rich and poor, powerful – strong and weak and powerless, those successful in the world’s eyes and those they judge failures, those who broke man’s and God’s laws and those who were faithful to be lawful citizens.  He viewed all as sinful – falling short of God’s example and God’s standard.

The example Christ lived and examples He taught and told parables to explain are of the true sacrificial Love only God can instill and inspire and empower.  When we look at example demonstrated by early Christians and by born again Christians since, we see a more common demonstrated self sacrificing love Christ taught.  Granted, there are noteworthy exceptions by those who either were only nominal Christians or those who weakened and failed to do so.  Granted, some are more difficult to love than others.  Likewise, love (as described in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7) describes conduct that has others best interest at heart, even “tough love” that encourages others to turn away from self-destructive behavior and choices and from choices that brings harm to others. 

Well, I think today’s devotion reminds us the value and importance of loving others sacrificially – like Christ did – like faithful Christians have since that first  Easter.  The benefits to our relationship with Christ, the benefit to our influence on others, the benefit to welfare of others, the benefit God will empower to spread far beyond our direct influence will all make any short term suffering or sacrifice well worth it.  Even paying the ultimate sacrifice will be worth it if made at request from God.  Some religions call on others to make that sacrifice by killing others, but Christ is calling us to sacrifice to bring life (eternal life) to others and not death.   

Let’s look today for a way to demonstrate sacrificial love for the sake of God’s glory or the good of another.

“If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him.”  C. T. Studd

 

2/20/19               A King after God’s Own Heart – David                                 20            
2 Samuel 5:23  And David enquired of the Lord.

RECOMMENDED  READING 2 Samuel 5:1-25  “All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “We are your own flesh and blood. ² In the past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel on their military campaigns. And the Lord said to you, ‘You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will become their ruler.’”³ When all the elders of Israel had come to King David at Hebron, the king made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel.⁴ David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years. ⁵ In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years.

David Conquers Jerusalem

⁶ The king and his men marched to Jerusalem to attack the Jebusites, who lived there. The Jebusites said to David, “You will not get in here; even the blind and the lame can ward you off.” They thought, “David cannot get in here.”⁷ Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion—which is the City of David.⁸ On that day David had said, “Anyone who conquers the Jebusites will have to use the water shaft to reach those ‘lame and blind’ who are David’s enemies.^[a]” That is why they say, “The ‘blind and lame’ will not enter the palace.”⁹ David then took up residence in the fortress and called it the City of David. He built up the area around it, from the terraces^[b] inward. ¹⁰ And he became more and more powerful, because the Lord God Almighty was with him.¹¹ Now Hiram king of Tyre sent envoys to David, along with cedar logs and carpenters and stonemasons, and they built a palace for David. ¹² Then David knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel and had exalted his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.¹³ After he left Hebron, David took more concubines and wives in Jerusalem, and more sons and daughters were born to him. ¹⁴ These are the names of the children born to him there: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, ¹⁵ Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, ¹⁶ Elishama, Eliada and Eliphelet.

David Defeats the Philistines

¹⁷ When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, they went up in full force to search for him, but David heard about it and went down to the stronghold. ¹⁸ Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim; ¹⁹ so David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I go and attack the Philistines? Will you deliver them into my hands?”The Lord answered him, “Go, for I will surely deliver the Philistines into your hands.”²⁰ So David went to Baal Perazim, and there he defeated them. He said, “As waters break out, the Lord has broken out against my enemies before me.” So that place was called Baal Perazim.^[c] 21 The Philistines abandoned their idols there, and David and his men carried them off.²² Once more the Philistines came up and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim;²³ so David inquired of the Lord, and he answered, “Do not go straight up, but circle around behind them and attack them in front of the poplar trees. ²⁴ As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the poplar trees, move quickly, because that will mean the Lord has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army.” ²⁵ So David did as the Lord commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeon^[d] to Gezer.”

 

COMMENTS: David was one of only a very few identified by God as “favored by God” or “a man after God’s own Heart”.   When reading the Psalms we know David composed and read of his faithfulness especially before becoming king, we discover why God gave him such a complement and chose him to be Saul’s replacement as Israel’s king.  David started out well seeking and following God’s command and enjoying close fellowship with God as well as God’s blessings.   But the blessing of power and riches, which God intended to be used to honor God and to do God’s work, began to be used to feed David’s selfish appetites.  He began  to acquire wives, including pagan wives.  His error in judgment started when he married Saul’s daughter – an arranged marriage by Saul and not by God.  If David had waited and been satisfied in marrying Abagail, Nabal’s widow (1 Samuel 25-27 gives story) and stayed focused on following God’s council and path,  he would not have sinned with Bathsheba and murdered Uriah, her husband, or married pagan wives, his life would have been even better and Solomon might have learned how to resist temptations instead of following his father’s pagan wive’s temptations.

Solomon also started out well with even greater wisdom than David but wondered away from God into sin, influenced by his pagan wives.  We don’t have any proof in scripture he ever repented, like David did.  How tragic for him and tragic for Israel.  But their lessons are vital if we are to go a different path and stay true to God.

Take note in above scripture that because David chose to seek God’s council before attacking the Philistines, God gave him a different attack strategy from David’s plan.  By waiting and discovering God’s plan and then following that plan, David  was able to do what Saul could not do – defeat the Philistines.   God guided David to defeat Goliath as a boy and Goliath’s people and great army as a man and king.

The Bible is full of stories telling us to follow God’s plan and time is always best for us and for others we would influence.  When we go ahead of God or follow our plan and time, we at best settle for second best and at worst face disaster. 

David shows the right way and order to find and follow God’s plan.  David also shows us the real dangers and consequences of failing to do so.   He also shows us just how easy it is to wander from that best path without realizing it.  David went a year in disobedience after murdering Uriah and didn’t awaken until Nathan confronted him.  To David’s credit, he immediately ran to the tabernacle seeking God’s forgiveness, which God granted him. 

So we must be on alert seeking God’s council constantly to make sure we stay true to Him and still have our hand in His.  John 10:10 – Christ came so we may have life and have life abundantly.  Life beyond our dreams but life as God intended instead of life limited by our expectations or imagination or  our sinful nature.

As we walk with Christ, having His Holy Spirit abiding in us guiding us, we over time learn to trust Him more and more and discover more about Him and become more like Him as progress in years.  But we never, this side of the grave, are able to get to the point we are not capable of sin nor vulnerable to satan’s snares.  We are never weaker than when we take our eyes off Him but are never stronger than when we keep our eyes and focus on Him.  AMEN?  AMEN!

Let us, then, take all our perplexities to Him, and say, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” Leave not thy chamber this morning without enquiring of the Lord.

2/21/19                                     Stress and Thanks                                  21

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks.  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

RECOMMENDED  READING Philippians 4:4  “⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ⁵ Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. ⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

COMMENTS:  We all know that 2 physical objects can reside in the same space at the same time.  The second law of physics identifies this limitation, but we all see proof of that every day.  Cars trying to do that destroy each other.  People who do that run into each other and do each other harm.  But the object that possesses the greatest kinetic energy, which is determined by how fast and how heavy it is, ends up moving the other object out of the way.

This law does not apply to spiritual or non-physical things but does have some application if related to other defining influences.  Stress and anxiety comes with worry or excessive fear of a consequence.  Consequence of a path current situations are pushing us to or continuing us on.   

King Saul was on such a path to destruction when he focused on trying to kill David.  He worried about David taking his throne but everything Saul did only made that happen sooner, not later. 

You and see similar situations unfold every day.  Children and Teens and even adults continuing on self-destructive behavior while parents and grandparents and friends watch helplessly as that  destruction unfolds, helpless to stop it.  Why?  Because that destructive behavior is not stopped and help is not accepted.

Well, Christ offers help and a solution to redemption and healing too, but must stay back and watch because we and those we love continue to do make destructive choices and turn our backs on God and on those who so want to help.  But as that destructive path continues, it gets   harder to turn back because of pride and because bad habits are a powerful addiction.   Satan’s influence gets stronger and harder to resist as we continue to yield to his seductions.  

Worry and pride are two we all are the most vulnerable to.  Worry grips us and binds us so thinking clearing and logically is more difficult and working out of situations that cause us worry also becomes more difficult.  With pride on top of worry, we fail to seek or accept opportunities for others to help us, especially God.  Pride convinces us others can’t help us or we that we can fix our own problems or that it is not our fault and blame our bad choices on others instead of ourselves.

But God calls us to humility instead of pride.  He calls us to community with Him and with other believers instead of to isolation or community with others also on destructive paths.   Justifying bad choices and continuing on that is the deception satan loves to lure us with. 

Why does God allow such?  Because of His commitment from eternity past to honor free choice from us, His creation.  His wisdom and foresight knows to  force us into obedience is not a good choice for us or for others.  If it was, then dictatorship would be the best choice of government.  Law or limits on choices and behavior prevent evil from going unchecked.  Satan cannot do his evil unbridled.  But then again, the evil we see is getting pretty bad.   Yet prophecy warns us it is going to get a lot worse.  Men will only do evil and will judge good as evil and evil as good without exception. Christ will return when man is on the brink of destroying himself and Christ must intervene to prevent man from totally destroying himself.

But Christ still is shouting to us “Repent and turn to Him” Turn away from death and turn to life.  Turn from worry and turn to hope.  Turn from pride and turn to humility.  Turn from evil and turn to good.  TURN FROM SATAN AND TURN TO GOD –  TURN TO CHRIST – TURN TO HIS WORD AND ALLOW HIS HOLY SPIRIT TO GUIDE…

Both  history recorded in scripture history recorded in history books all prove God’s ways and input are always better and man’s ways and input do not end up  well.   So, without Christ in our lives, we have good reason to worry but such should motivate us to address that worry by running to Him instead of just continuing to worry.  What sense does it make to worry about driving off a cliff but continuing down a dead end  while seeing repeated signs go past warning of a dead end and warning of a cliff waiting at roads end. 

Why not take the turnaround God offers with a new path to life and success and fulfillment?

At the first sign of stress, pray and give thanks to God for the joy that comes from trusting Him in all things. Not for all things, but in all things.

The measure of our spirituality is the amount of praise and thanksgiving in our prayer. 
D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

2/22/19                                             Do Not Worry                                         22

Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life.           Matthew 6:25

RECOMMENDED READING:  Philippians 4:4-9 “⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ⁵ Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. ⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

⁸ Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ⁹ Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice.And the God of peace will be with you.”

COMMENT:  Our emotions naturally tend to control our thoughts and word and actions.   When we’re angry, we tend to look for ways to find fault with others and actually look for excuses to release our anger with hateful words or actions.  Our emotions need someone or something to blame, especially when there is no way of accessing the source of our anger. Injustice towards us or to those we care about causes anger in us.   Obstacles to completing tasks or reaching goals can cause anger.  When we solely depend on our own talents and abilities and strength, we should expect failure to be common and for obstacles to be unmovable.   

Sure, most obstacles we encounter are easily removed by ourselves and we accomplish goals on our own every day, or do we? Where do you think your abilities and health bodies and minds came from?  We deny God and work He does when we ignore Him.  We enable ourselves to make wise choices and add His strength to ours when we turn to Him, open ourselves to Him, and follow His council and will.

Imagine planning a cross country trip.  A friend offers you their car to make the trip but you decide to walk instead.  When starting the trip you quickly discover trip is taking longer and is less enjoyable than you anticipated. As the impossibility of reaching your destination on time begins to overwhelm you, anger and blame begins to dominate your thinking, even blaming your friend for not talking you into using his car.     

Well, this example seems so ridiculous but don’t we treat God the same way.  He offers His resources as help to us.  He offers a personal relationship with Himself to council and guide and inspires us as well as providing strength and wisdom to enable us to achieve goals.  Well, good parents are not always appreciated by their children nor do their children always agree with their choices.   

We do not always agree with goals and methods and timing God gives us either. As much as we want to be right, the sooner we admit God is always right  and to resist or deny doing God’s will puts us on the wrong side, truth is we need to humble ourselves and simply obey Him, like it or not. 

Will we let our emotions control us or will we learn to think logically and make our minds control our emotions?  How much harm do we do and how much good do we fail to do simply because “we don’t feel like it”?  How many harsh words do we later regret because we let our emotions direct our minds?  If we reflect honestly, we will discover there was a brief time prior to action  when we chose to follow our emotions but felt a nudge or sense of conscience telling us not to respond in that way.  

You have heard it said to count to 10 before responding with anger.  How many crimes or broken relationships or other society problems could be solved or eliminated if everyone would “count to 10” before acting out of anger.  Well, I’m sure that trick won’t work everywhere and some may need to count to 1,000,000 before that would work.  But if everyone would seek and follow Christ’s council recorded in scripture and seek a relationship with Him, imagine what a positive difference that would make in the world.  We can’t change other’s minds but we can be a positive example and a positive influence on others.

Prayer is a tool available to all of us and we should not take it lightly nor take lightly its impact.  Prayer impacts us powerfully so we are more open and aware of opportunities God gives us.  Prayer also, in ways we can’t understand nor know, impact options God has to do miracles in the lives of others and, yes, to us. 

Miracles are defined as being rare and unnatural changes done by a divine being.  We then judge regular miracles like birth or the body’s ability to heal or a life change for the good as being natural and not miracles.

I, however, believe God does miracles every day and the most common miracles are those He does the most often.  He loves to create life and He loves to transform lives.  He loves beautiful sunrises and sunsets.  He loves clear skies at night showing the vastness and majesty of the stars.  He loves to enable us to see in color and stand and walk and talk and reason and breathe and …. The list goes on.

I challenge you and myself to look each day for God’s miracles and seek His council on how to enjoy and use these miracles for His honor and plan.   Romans 8:28 reminds us God uses good and even evil for our good, even evil actions intended to harm us God will transform  to bless us if we trust and follow Him.  So let’s begin, ok?  If we do, I am confident worry will fade and faith will replace it.  AMEN?  AMEN!    

If you are tempted to worry about anything today, commit it to God with thankful prayer. And let His peace guard your heart and mind.

“Worry is an indication that we think God cannot look after us.”  Oswald Chambers

2/23/19                                      Good Thoughts                                                23     

You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.
Isaiah 26:3

RECOMMENDED  READING:  PHILIPPIANS 4:4-9  “⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ⁵ Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. ⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.⁸ Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ⁹ Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”

COMMENTS:  Attitude makes a huge difference on how well we do our jobs, reach our goals, and conduct our selves.  Attitude makes both impossible tasks doable and easy tasks impossible to finish.  I sympathize for those who get frequent migraine headaches.  Our daughter, Debbie, is one of those who so suffer.  I rarely have experienced such but do remember so suffering during stressful times during my working career.   When pain got bad enough, I would need to lay down with a hot damp towel to get relief.  At those times I had to deal with the pain and take a break from work to deal with the pain.

But how often do we endure problems and anxiety we should put in God’s hands and focus on tasks God gives us.  During my working career, I learned projects and tasks assigned by my employer were important but if I kept  an open mind to notice opportunities to be a positive witness of Christ’s love helped make work go better as well as keep me open to see opportunities to listen and give a word of encouragement.   I have to confess I did not accomplish this every day, but days I did were noteworthy.  I was more open for the Holy Spirit to impact positively my attitude and open my mind for His help both in completed assigned tasks and in developing positive relationships with co-workers and customers and supervisors.

Since retiring, migraines come very infrequent and stress is more manageable.    Yet, life still brings difficulties and stress and disappointments and temptations for anxiety to overtake.     But having more time available to be in prayer and bible study and keeping my daily devotional journal all are wonderful tools to draw me closer in fellowship and relationship to Christ.   During my working career, I was able to do so by setting priorities but time struggles did cause me to shorten my devotion time from what my soul desired and am sure Christ desired too. 

We all know worry is not healthy or productive.  Worry handicaps our ability to think clearly and logically and hinders our willingness to seek and find solutions from places and people best suited to give help, especially from Christ Himself.  The Holy Spirit is available to us 24×7, but because He is not visible to our eyes, we tend to forget He is here and available and willing to help.  But we also may be reluctant because we are not prepared to receive or accept His council. 

But if we focus on changing our attitude and forcing our will to be in compliance to God’s Will, we begin to soften our attitude so the Holy Spirit can begin molding it into a shape that will yield to His plan and council.  Empting ourselves so He can fill us, that is essential but a lifetime struggle and challenge.  We keep picking up our bag of burdens and cross instead of leaving them at His feet and picking up His yoke.   He tells us His yoke is lighter than ours – Matthew 11:28-30 “²⁸ “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Empty your mind of negative, ungodly thinking and let the good and godly thoughts rush in. There is no better source for good thoughts than the Word of God.

“When anger enters the mind, wisdom departs.”  Thomas à Kempis

2/24/19                          The Blacksmith’s Advice                                      24   

Christ in you, the hope of glory.  Colossians 1:27

Recommended Reading:  Colossians 1:24-29  

Paul’s Labor for the Church

^“24 Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. ²⁵ I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness— ²⁶ the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people. ²⁷ To them God has chosen to make knownamong the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

²⁸ He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. ²⁹ To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.”

 

COMMENTS:   A family friend is working as a dispatching agent overseas.  In that country other agents more commonly make commitments based hopeful connections instead of firm commitments.  Those commitments are essential for business transactions to take place, but when those connections fall thru, the agent walks away but those depending on him loose business and money.   They make money and seem to get away with their reckless business practices, but the value of integrity in business always comes through as a far better long term sustainable way of doing business.  Our friend is starting to notice that because he held himself to a higher standard of doing business than his peers, he is starting to stand out as a more sought out agent by businesses needs his services.  I am not sharing specifics, but I believe this is an example of value and importance Christ brings to everyday life if we seek Him.  Christ brings a moral compass and source of knowledge and wisdom foreign to the secular world.

The business world still realizes integrity as a better way of doing and sustaining business, but  there still are far too many businessmen and managers and supervisors and CEO’s who still think “get rich quick” methods using deception and trickery bring faster and larger  results.   50 years ago TV shows and movies always showed the “good guys” always winning and decency prevailing over evil.  Good, as judged through the 10 commandments, w as still good and evil, as judged through the 10 commandments, was still evil.  

That standard and moral compass is becoming less clear and defined.  Evil is becoming more “justifiable” and good less “realistic” or acceptable or even desirable. 

The news is full of examples of society and individuals who face tragedy and spread destruction to others because of turning from God’s guiding hand and standard for good and evil, and venturing out following their own selfish standard and the standard of others doing the same.   Result is they tend to gravitate to other like minded individuals who compound their destructive behavior and choices and actions.  Sadly, they also solicited and evangelize others to join and spread their lies and destruction and evil world view. 

Paavo Ruotsalainen, a Finland preacher, was born into a very poor farming family in 1777.  As a young man he sought a deep Christian life, so sought out a distant devoted Christian blacksmith.  He traveled to visit him begging for lodging and food along the journey.

That blacksmith, Jacob Hogman, told the young man he what he lacked, and seeking, was an inner awareness of Christ.  That council helped Paavo to focus on a relationship with Christ and seeking the hope of His Glory and a personal relationship with Him. His journey went on to cover much of Finland sparking revivals along the way.  He actually covered more miles in Finland than the Apostle Paul did on all his missionary journeys.

Colossians 3:1-2 says, “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above.”

The journey of obtaining a deeper relationship with Christ is life long.    That destination is not fully reached this side of heaven, but each day can and should reveal a deeper relationship and deeper discovery of Christ’s character than the day before.  The journey will also enable and invite others to join that quest and journey with us. 

Christ never meant for us to become fully equipped before becoming his light into the world.  He only intended for us to surrender to Him first and then begin serving one day and one step at a time trusting Him and exercising our faith with each step.

Paavo did just that growing and gaining a greater understand and love for Christ as he traveled.   As He discovered more about Christ’s personality and character and nature.  As He discovered more of His attributes and gained a greater knowledge and discernment for scripture.  As He gained more instruction and guidance from His abiding Holy Spirit, he gained boldness and anointing and inspiration in outreach and ministry and evangelism and greater influence in winning others as well.   So do we, if we surrender to Him. Not necessarily   to travel in our own country or another country but certainly as interact with others who we cross paths with.  Outreach becomes more a natural result of being the person Christ changes us to become instead of  learning a sermon or message or “sales pitch” in an attempt to convince others to follow.   We are not called to be “salesmen” but we are called to be a light of His Hope and Way to live.

This takes a heavy burden off our shoulders and frees us to seek a closer relationship with Christ and simply  love others!

Christ in you—the hope of glory!

“One thing you lack and therewith you lack all else: the inner awareness of Christ. “  Jacob Hogman

2/25/19                               In Quietness and Confidence                                          25                          In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and confidence shall be your strength.
Isaiah 30:15

RECOMMENDED SCRIPTURE ISAIAH 30:1-15 “Woe to the rebellious children,” says the Lord,“Who take counsel, but not of Me,And who devise plans, but not of My Spirit,That they may add sin to sin;² Who walk to go down to Egypt,And have not asked My advice,To strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh,And to trust in the shadow of Egypt!³ Therefore the strength of Pharaoh shall be your shame, And trust in the shadow of EgyptShall be your humiliation.⁴ For his princes were at Zoan, And his ambassadors came to Hanes.⁵ They were all ashamed of a people who could not benefit them,Or be help or benefit,But a shame and also a reproach.”⁶ The burden against the beasts of the South. Through a land of trouble and anguish,From which came the lioness and lion,The viper and fiery flying serpent, They will carry their riches on the backs of young donkeys,And their treasures on the humps of camels,To a people who shall not profit;⁷ For the Egyptians shall help in vain and to no purpose.Therefore I have called her Rahab-Hem-Shebeth. ⁸ Now go, write it before them on a tablet,And note it on a scroll,That it may be for time to come,Forever and ever:⁹ That this is a rebellious people, Lying children,Children who will not hear the law of the Lord;¹⁰ Who say to the seers, “Do not see,”And to the prophets, “Do not prophesy to us right things; Speak to us smooth things, prophesy deceits.”

COMMENTS: Isaiah was so frustrated with his people.  They rebelled and refused to repent.  It was obvious how patient God had been, doing everything to try to convince them to repent.  Isaiah was frustrated that history wasn’t enough to convince them to repent. He was also frustrated at lack of leadership from their king too.  But he knew people follow their leader either to repentance or to rebellion.  But Isaiah couldn’t bear to see his people continuing into destruction because of pride and hard hearts.  I can relate to him.  Our step grandson is 18 and going through such a period of rebellion.  Being 18, his parents (our daughter and son-in-law) are no longer legally able to prevent him from making self-destructive choices.  Their conversations and pleas and warnings of consequences are falling on deaf ears and he has already faced significant consequences of his choices and is getting worse.   Yet he refused to admit and either change or ask for their help.  So painful for them and us, for those who deeply care for and love him and want to help and forgive. 

Consider how much hurt we put on Christ when we continue to rebel against Him and render His unimaginable sacrifice unused in our lives.  How much we hurt Him when we rebel and refuse the blessing of receiving the redemption His sacrifice provides.

The teen years are what I call the dark years.  Some children go through those years unskaved and stay true to the moral compass Christ centered parents have instilled in them.  But some rebel against that compass and faith they were exposed to and venture down the dark self-destructive path of sin and pride.   

Isaiah saw the royal delegation leaving for Egypt seeking an alliance from Egypt to help them defend against their enemies. King Hezekiah couldn’t bring himself to trust God to provide sufficient protection alone in spite of Isaiah’s council.   Hezekiah hadn’t sought God’s council from Isaiah (Isaiah 30:2).  Isaiah warned Hezekiah not to go to Egypt, God would provide sufficient help and protection if he would trust Him (vs15).

We need to learn from Isaiah and Hezekiah’s failure and put our full trust in Him too.  To put our cares and worries and f ears on Him instead of going ahead of His lead and doing or saying things that makes things worse and cause us regrets.

 

“This quietness and confidence is… an abiding frame of mind, an all-enduring and an all-pervading spirit…. Indeed it’s priceless value lies in the fact that it pervades the anxious activities of life.”
George Wilson, Edinburgh preacher

 

2/26/19                                       Love with Compassion                              26 
But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.   Matthew 9:36
RECOMMENDED SCRIPTURE READING JOHN 3:16-17  “¹⁶ For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷ For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
COMMENTS: Take some time and reflect on those times and situations you were moved with compassion. Maybe it was a time when saw your child or grandchild in a special adorable pose or situation showing their innocence or vulnerability.  Maybe it was a time when a friend or even a stranger was in desperate need needing a resource you knew you could give him.  Maybe it was a time God revealed to you such an opportunity.

Compassion is a emotion Christ felt and demonstrated often while ministering on earth.  It is a emotion and virtue He enables us to experience and motivate us to action too.  Sheepherding was a common occupation and responsibility during Jesus earthly life.  In many parts of the world it still is.  Sheep are a source of clothing material and even a source of food.  But sheep are a very needy and helpless animal.  They blindly follow the sheep ahead of them and respond to danger without thought or rational thinking.  They also respond to nudging of their shepherd.  They learn to know and trust their shepherd and follow his lead.  But shepherding is a demanding job.  A job demanding constant guarding and watching over his sheep because the  danger of a preditor always is near.  Sheep can not sense danger until it is too late to escape. 

Christ associated us to sheep and He as our Shepherd.  But He does not care for us in order that we can provide clothes and food for Him.  He provides for Himself.  But He solely provides for us out of compassion and love for us. 

He shears His sheep – shedding off the wool that is no longer needed by the sheep, or prevents them from growing more wool, so that wool can be used to warm other sheep too sick in sin to grow their own wool.   The story Jesus told of the shepherd that left the 99 sheep to seek and find one lost sheep   demonstrates His great love and compassion for each of us.  The story Natan told David of  the man who had many sheep but stole his neighbors one beloved sheep in order to provide a feast for his guests angered David to point of judging that evil  man until Nathan  revealed to David that he was that man for taking Uriah’s  one wife to be one of his many wives.  These stories reveal to us how valued and cared for sheep were in that day as well as how important they were to people then.  But it also tells us how vulnerable sheep were too.

With wealth and much resource comes great responsibility to use that resource wisely.  God provides note for us to use for our own selfish desires and wants but to provide for our needs and for needs of others.   If we waste resources on our wants, than that resource is no longer available when a need presents itself.  When we use restraint in spending resource, we have that resource when a personal need arises and especially when a need by a friend or family member or our church presents itself.  Being a good steward of  resources God provides us is an important job and responsibility.  We will be held accountable for how well we do so.  Yet we live in a world of self gratification buying what we want but don’t need with money we don’t have but borrow in order to satisfy desires that both are harmful to us and distract or preventing us from obtaining what we do need.  Resource of money is not the only resource we spend foolishly.  Time is a resource we all have equal amounts of each day.  We each have a different amount of limited time to spend on earth.  We all tend to waste too much time on selfish wants and pursuits instead of investing that time in His Word and fellowship with Him and in doing His work in the lives of others.

So lets put some time and thought and prayer into seeking God’s council in how He would have us change how and where we spend the money and time He gives us each day.  Let us begin to open ourselves to experience the compassion for others that Christ experienced and to let that compassion fuel His work in and through us as it fueled His ministry to others so many centuries ago.  AND STILL FUELS HIS GRACE TO USE EACH AND  EVER Y DAY.

“Biblical orthodoxy without compassion is surely the ugliest thing in the world.”
Francis Schaeffer

 

 

2/27/19                               Forgiveness Has Two Faces                               27            

Psalm 103:2-3. “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases.”

RECOMMENDED SCRIPTURE READING:  Isaiah 38:17 “Surely it was for my benefit that I suffered such anguish.In your love you kept me from the pit of destruction; you have put all my sinsbehind your back.”                                            Micah 7:19  “You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.”

COMMENTS:   Psalm 103:2-3 is a wonderful verse of hope and promise from God to you and me, to anyone who comes to Him seeking His mercy and forgiveness seeking a relationship with Him.  God revealed this to David, who wrote and lived by this verse.  God not only forgives but also heals and transforms us with His crown of goodness and strength and wisdom abide with and in us when we walk with Him.  We do so by simply inviting Him into our lives and place our hands and wills in His.  We give Him our broken sinful lives and He gives us His perfect Love and fellowship.  His forgives comes to us with two phases.  The first is His forgiveness to us.   The second is our forgiveness to our neighbors.  To those who have wronged us.  The neighbor near us and the neighbor of distance. 

In today’s world, we can communicate and interact with anyone anywhere in the world at any time.  With this comes opportunity of impacting others for good or evil anywhere in the world.  So that means we have responsibility to forgive and minister far beyond what our forefathers could or did.

Our forgiveness is permanent and our sins are removed from us farther than we know or can comprehend.  The depth of our sin and significance of God’s mercy is beyond what we know, so we must realize the worst of offense others have done to us doesn’t not come close to suffering our sins have caused Christ to endure.  Such realization should be sufficient motivation to render forgiveness to those who wrong us.  Even those who continue to wrong us.  Justice is God’s to give, not for us to render.

Forgiving our neighbor includes forgive our spouse, forgiving our parents, our children, our friends, our co-workers. It even includes forgiving our enemies.  When we release them to God and trust Him to administer justice or mercy as He wills, we release ourselves to love and share our witness to them. We also release ourselves to love and follow Christ as He desires us to.  As we desperately need to have as well.    When we fail to forgive, we do ourselves far more harm than we could ever do or hope to do to those who offend us.

Much like firing a weapon at a target that only hits the one holding the weapon.

We can only experience life as God intended, eternal life, when we accept God’s forgiveness.  That forgiveness is not conditional but must be accepted in order to be in force.  Forgiveness must be received to be in force.  Forgiveness is free for us but costly beyond our comprehension to Christ.  We don’t earn or pay for or negotiate God’s mercy.  We only accept it on His terms.  By surrendering our wills to His and letting Him into our hearts.  We open ourselves to receive His love and open ourselves to love Him in response. 

God is not limited by time or space.  He sees the future as clearly as the present and past.  He controls both completely without limits. He fully knows the consequences of sinful choices and of wise choices, so when we  yield to His council, we also open ourselves to receive His blessings and avoid consequences otherwise on the path are proceeding down.  He will do anything to spare us except for us to follow Him.   That must be our choice.  Not one our parents or pastor or even our children can make for us.   Each must make that choice for himself and must continue to make wise choices each day.

So how well will we forgive others and how well will we do good and not harm to others? Each doctor takes an oath “to do no harm”   to work with a purpose to administer healing.   To leave patents better than they found them.  Should that not also be our goal as Christians?  Even to those who harm us?  Didn’t Christ demonstrate perfectly such a goal?

THE PRAYER:” Heavenly Father, whenever I find it most difficult to forgive others the wrongs they have done to me, lift my eyes to the cross, and I will learn to forgive once again. Amen.”

 

2/28/19                                   Waiting With Certainty                              28   

Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the Lord!
Psalm 27:14

RECOMMENDED READING: Isaiah 40:31 “³¹ But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.”

COMMENTS:  Waiting is necessary to reach goal but not idle waiting.  Waiting 9 months for the birth of a child also requires the mother making sure she provides sufficient nourishment for the baby growing inside her.  That time also gives her opportunity to prepare to care for the child after birth.

School graduation only becomes a realistic goal by doing the school work to meet graduation requirements.  Waiting but waiting while working towards that goal.

Waiting for an event like a birthday or anniversary or Christmas or another holiday may require less work but still requires preparation in order to enjoy all the blessings that day brings. Preparations include preparation for meals and gift exchanges and parties that are traditions of those times. Preparation also includes nurturing personal relationships with family and friends who participate in those activities.

But what about “the reason for observing those holidays?”  What about Christ, who’s birthday we celebrate at Christmas and death and resurrection of Christ we observe on Easter.  What about nurturing our personal relationship with Christ?  We are approaching Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent – the time of preparation for Easter.

So, what events or goals are you waiting for?   What events are you preparing for? 

What should we do to prepare for Lent and Easter?  What should we do while waiting for Christ’s return?  We have every reason to wait with confidence and certainty of Christ’s return.  His return could be today or this year or may not be for another 100 years.  But I believe His return in soon and maybe even imminent.  To not prepare for His return is foolish and will have consequences.  Consequences of possibly being left behind, but also regrets of not warning and helping loved ones and others we care for so they would not be left behind.

Bible prophecy warns of dangerous times coming.  Times when to be a faithful Christian will bring certainty of persecution or even execution.  Preparing for those times will enable us to endure those terrible times while still showing and encouraging others to have and share the unshakeable hope that only Christ can give. 

Are you looking to the future, unsure of what it holds? Trust in the Lord (Proverbs 3:5-6). Receive His strength for your heart as you wait upon Him.  No need to wait alone or without hope and confidence.  He provides His Holy Spirit to guide and wait with us.  We have everything to gain.

“The great secret of a right waiting upon God is to be brought down to utter impotence. “
Andrew Murray

 

 

GIDEON BIBLE REFERENCE SCRIPTURES  6/24/10 Roswell, NM

HELP IN TIME OF NEED:

• The way of salvation:                                    John 14:6, Acts 16.32, Romans 10:9
• Comfort in time of loneliness :                    Psalm 23, Isaiah 41:10, Hebrews 13:5-6
• Comfort in time of sorrow                           2 Cor. 1:3-5, Romans 8:26-28
• Relief in time of suffering                             2 Cor. 12:8-10, Hebrews 12:3-13
• Guidance in time of decision                        James  1:5-6, Proverbs 3:5-6
• Protection in time of danger                        Psalm 91, Psalm 121
• Courage in time of fear                                 Hebrews 13:5-6, Ephesians 6:10-18
• Peace in time of turmoil                               Isaiah 26:3-4, Philippians 4:6-7
• Rest in time of weariness                             Matthew 11:28-29, Psalm 23
• Strength in time of temptation                    James 1:12-16, 1Cor. 10:6-13
• Warning in time of indifference                  Gal. 5:19-21, Hebrews 10:26-31
• Forgiveness in time of conviction               Isaiah 1:18, 1Jn, 1:7-8

 

SUGGESTED READINGS (HISTORICAL HIGHLIGHTS):

• The creation Genesis 1-2
• The fall of man Gen 3
• The flood of noah Gen 6-9
• The call of Abraham Gen 12:1-9
• Deliverance of Israel from Egypt Exodus 11-14
• Dedication of the temple 2 Chronicles 5-7
• The Babylonian Captivity of Israel 2 Chr. 36
• Revival of Israel after captivity Nehemiah 8-9
• Promises of the coming Messiah Isaiah 9:2-7, Ps22, Is.53
• The Birth of Christ Mtt1:18-2:23, Lk1:26-2:40
• The Triumphal Entry Lk19:28-44
• The last supper Mk14:2-26
• The Garden of Gathsemane 26:36-46
• The Betreyal of Jesus 26-47-56
• The arrest and trial of Jesus Jn 18:12-19:16
• The death of Christ Lk 23:26-56, Jn19:16-42
• The resurrection of Christ Lk24, Jn20
• The ascension of Christ Acts 1:1-12
• The coming of the Holy Spirit Acts2:1-21
• The conversion of Paul Acts 9:1-31
• The heroes of Faith Hebrews 11

 

SUGGESTED READINGS (SPIRITUAL STANDARDS)

• The 10 commandments Exodus 20:1-17
• The sermon on the mount Mtt 5-7
• The golden rule Mtt7:12
• The greatest commandment Mtt 22:36-40
• The righteousness of Faith Romans 3:19-28
• The Royal Law James 2:8, Romans 13:8-10
• Christ’s New Commandment John 13:34-35
• Christian love               1 Cor. 13

 

DYNAMIC DOCTRINES

• God’s greatness and man’s weakness                                                    Isaiah 40
• The two fold Revelation of God                                                               Psalm 19
• Man’s universal guilt                                                                                   Rom 1:18-2:16
• Atonement                                                                                                    Leviticus 16, Romans 5
• The new birth                                                                                               John 3
• Justification by Faith                                                                                   Eph 2:1-10, Gal 2:16-21
• Christ, the Good Shepherd                                                                        Ps 23, John 10:1-18
• Christ’s intercession for His Own                                              Jn 17, Heb 7:25
• The High Priestly Work of Christ                                                              Heb. 7:25, Heb. 4:14-16
• Christ’s Humiliation and Exhaltation                                                       Philippians 2:5-11
• Resurrection of the Christian Dead                                                         1 Cor. 16, 1Thess. 4:13-18
• The second coming of Christ                                                                    Mtt 24, 2 Thess. 1:7-2:12
• The Last Judgment                                                                                      Rev. 20:10-15
• The New Heaven and New Earth                                              Rev. 21-22

 

PRACTICAL PRECEPTS:

• Christian Home relationships                       Eph. 5:22-6:4
• A model wife and mother                             Prov. 31:10-31
• Marriage and divorce                                    Mtt 19:3-9, Malachi 2:14-16
• The sin of adultery                                         Prov. 6:23-33
• The prodigal son                                             Luke 15:11-32
• Employer-employee relationships              Col 3:22-4:1
• Business and prof. principles                        Ps15, Prov. 3:1-12
• Seperation of worldliness                             2 Cor. 6:14-7:1, 1 Jn 2:15-17
• Decisions of doubtful things                        Rom.14
• Christian fruitfulness                                      Jn15
• Heavenly wisdom                                           James 3:14-18
• Christian responsibilities                Rom. 12-13
• Christian stewardship                                    2 Cor. 8-9
• Christian witnessing                                       Mtt 28:18-20, Jm17:18-20
• Prevailing prayer                                             Mtt 6:5-15, Philippians 4:6-7
• Heavenly priorities                                         Mtt 6:25-33
• Brevity of man’s days                                    Ps 90
• The causes of war                                          James 4:1-4
• The value of the soul                                     Mk. 8:36-37

 

WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT ITSELF:

• ITSELF:                                                              2 Tim. 3:15-16   , Psalm 19:7
• GOD:                                                                 Psalm 99:9, 1 Tim.1:17, Isaiah 45:21-22
• MAN:                                                                 Gen. 1:27, Gen 2:7, Isaiah 43:7
• HEAVEN:                                                           Rev.21:3-4, 21:27
• SIN:                                                                    Romans 5:12, Isaiah 59:2, Romans 3:23
• HELL:                                                                 2 Thess 1:8-9, Rev. 20:15
• CHRIST –HIS ADVENT                                    Micah 5:2, Mtt.1:21-23, Lk 2:10-11
• CHRIST – HIS PERSON                                    John 10:30, 14:6
• CHRIST –HIS WORK                                        Lk. 22:19-20, 1 Peter 2:24, Col.1:14, Isaiah 53:5-6
• CHRIST-HIS RESURRECTION                        Lk. 24:36,39, 1 Cor. 15:3-4
• FAITH                                                                Acts 20:20-21, Heb. 11:6, Eph. 2:8-9
• LIFE                                                                    John 3:3, 1:12-13, 3:36, 2 Cor.5:17

If you wish, you can access my blog at “https://donsdevotions.wordpress.com“. There you will find 370 blog posts I have made plus a link to my devotional journal material archives from 2013 to present.

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My hope and prayer are, my blog and devotional materials will become a source of encouragement and tools in ministry for you.