" He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God."
John 1:10-13
This is fundamentally one of the greatest statements about Jesus ever written. I think of the reality of what is being said by the great apostle John, and realize that Jesus was not welcomed in this world at all. The interesting thing about this is the fact that Jesus created the world. John made it clear that Jesus was there when God created everything, so when he came, he was coming to a place that was already his. Yet he was treated as an alien, a foreigner, a stranger in a strange land. People did not recognize him then and many still do not.
To those of us who have received him and believed in him, the greatest gift has been given. It is this gift that has changed us for eternity and given us a position far above anything we could ever hope for. You see, we have been given the right to be the children of God. What an incredible thought it is to know that we are his own children. Since this is true, we can be assured that he treats us as his own. Some say that God is angry. They believe him to be distant and disinterested in our lives. They suppose that he is aloof and only gets involved when there is a major world event. But the opposite is true. God is intimately involved in each of our lives because he is our Father and we are his children. Good fathers treat their children with love, discipline, and care. This is how God treats us. He wants the best for us. He cries when we are hurting. He laughs with joy when we receive his indescribable gifts like a child on Christmas morning. He loves us and is always there, whether we see him or not. This is our Father, and we are his children.
This miracle relationship was accomplished because Jesus came as an uninvited stranger to a world that he already owned. Selflessly, he gave himself up for us and invited us to be God's children along with him. He is God's Son, yet he is fully God. So we are both his children and his siblings, granted the privileges of sonship. We are prodigals. We ran away from Him to pursue selfish ambitions and pleasures. Yet when we returned, he welcomed us as his own. We need not ask to be his slaves, he has given us all the rights of sons and daughters, heirs of the kingdom.
It encourages and lifts my spirit as I think about this wonderful truth. I am God's son! Jesus gave me the right, Father accepted me, and the Holy Spirit walks with me. I cannot help but thank and praise God for the blessing of being his son. Thank him, along with me, for accepting us as his children. Thank him for being the most wonderful Father we could ever imagine. Our earthly fathers may fail us, they may not always be there for us. But God is always there. He loves and cares for us as his own children, because we are. Meditate on this and lift your eyes toward heaven. God is waiting for you.
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Remembering HIs Benefits
"Praise the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits—
who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s."
Psalm 103:2-5
I needed some encouragement today so I turned to the Psalms. This one touched me exactly where I needed. Sometimes in the course of life, I lose sight of what is really important. It's easy to be so focused on the troubles that I forget the greater purpose of my life. This Psalm centered me once again on how great God is and what he has done for me. Today, I thought we could all use this encouragement.
The psalm says: "Forget not all his benefits." How easy it is to forget all the things God has done for us. We have benefited from everything he has done for us. The things he has done are eternal. I can't imagine a world without the influence of my Heavenly Father. I can't imagine my life without the precious guiding of the Holy Spirit. Yet in the middle of the grind of life, we may take it all for granted. Let it be a new resolve in us to remember the benefits God has given.
His benefits are not simply earthly things to help us get by. They are eternal things that are beyond any earthly value. He has forgiven all our sins. Where else could we find such a great salvation? He heals all our diseases and has redeemed us from the pit. Only God can do these things, for he is the Creator and Conductor of the great orchestra of creation. All this is ours. But there is more. He has poured out his love and compassion on us. He crowns us with it. This means that his love and compassion gives us a place of royalty in heaven and in the heart of God. He has certainly granted us the highest place in his heart. Every good desire we have within ourselves is placed there by God. He is the Author of our dreams and hopes, and he cheers for us to enter into these blessings.
Maybe you and I need to be renewed like the eagle. Maybe we need some youth restored in our lives today. When we remember the benefits of God, these things happen in us. We must make a choice today, a decision to praise the Lord with our souls. This is more than a religious activity. It is you and I crying out to God with all of our being, praising him and remembering all he has done for us and all he will do. If we don't feel like doing it, we must make a decision to force our souls to worship God. Within the daily activities of life, the most important thing we can do is to remember God's benefits. This will lift our heads and our hearts.
and forget not all his benefits—
who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s."
Psalm 103:2-5
I needed some encouragement today so I turned to the Psalms. This one touched me exactly where I needed. Sometimes in the course of life, I lose sight of what is really important. It's easy to be so focused on the troubles that I forget the greater purpose of my life. This Psalm centered me once again on how great God is and what he has done for me. Today, I thought we could all use this encouragement.
The psalm says: "Forget not all his benefits." How easy it is to forget all the things God has done for us. We have benefited from everything he has done for us. The things he has done are eternal. I can't imagine a world without the influence of my Heavenly Father. I can't imagine my life without the precious guiding of the Holy Spirit. Yet in the middle of the grind of life, we may take it all for granted. Let it be a new resolve in us to remember the benefits God has given.
His benefits are not simply earthly things to help us get by. They are eternal things that are beyond any earthly value. He has forgiven all our sins. Where else could we find such a great salvation? He heals all our diseases and has redeemed us from the pit. Only God can do these things, for he is the Creator and Conductor of the great orchestra of creation. All this is ours. But there is more. He has poured out his love and compassion on us. He crowns us with it. This means that his love and compassion gives us a place of royalty in heaven and in the heart of God. He has certainly granted us the highest place in his heart. Every good desire we have within ourselves is placed there by God. He is the Author of our dreams and hopes, and he cheers for us to enter into these blessings.
Maybe you and I need to be renewed like the eagle. Maybe we need some youth restored in our lives today. When we remember the benefits of God, these things happen in us. We must make a choice today, a decision to praise the Lord with our souls. This is more than a religious activity. It is you and I crying out to God with all of our being, praising him and remembering all he has done for us and all he will do. If we don't feel like doing it, we must make a decision to force our souls to worship God. Within the daily activities of life, the most important thing we can do is to remember God's benefits. This will lift our heads and our hearts.
Monday, August 27, 2012
Power of the Lord
"The power of the Lord came upon Elijah and, tucking his cloak into his belt, he ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel."
1 Kings 18:46
While I was driving the other day, I thought of this story. It's a very small statement about something that happened to the great prophet and man of God, Elijah. He had just had a showdown with the prophets of Baal. God did an amazing miracle, proving that he was the one true God. So the prophets of Baal were destroyed. It had not rained on the land for three and a half years. So afterward, Elijah began to pray for it to rain. Three times he prayed, three times he sent his servant to see if there were any clouds. Finally a cloud appeared and soon the land was bathed in cleansing rain. It is at this point that we find this little story about Elijah and the power of God.
On the surface, it doesn't look like much to talk about. But Bible historians tell us that the distance Elijah ran was probably about twenty eight miles. I don't know about you, but I would seriously need the power of the Lord to run twenty eight miles. Remember, in the days of the Old Testament, no one had the Holy Spirit living in them. Many times the Bible says "The Spirit of the Lord came on him," or other phrases like that. When needed, God strengthened the prophets, kings, and others to do his will. So Elijah, in the strength of the Lord, ran twenty eight miles and he did it fast enough to outrun king Ahab who was going to Jezreel as well.
I use this story to remind us that we have the power of the Holy Spirit in us. We might not be called to run a marathon for Jesus, but maybe we will. Whatever it is that God asks us to do, he will also empower us to accomplish it. This is why he has chosen to place his Spirit in us. We don't have to wait for the Spirit to come on us, we already have him in us. Therefore, we are already empowered to do what he is telling us to do. The only that stops us is our own unwillingness to follow through. If we believe the Holy Spirit has given something to do but we never launch out and do it, we have missed the point. If Elijah nad not run when he was supposed to, he never could have made the journey. So we must act when God speaks and empowers.
Today, this is a little reminder to us all. God lives in us. The Holy Spirit is in us to empower us to do the work of the ministry of Jesus Christ. So we too, have the power of God. We don't have to wait for it to come on us, we are assured that we already are equipped. Listen to the Holy Spirit. Some may call it "listening to your heart." Whatever you choose to call it, understand that you have the power of the Lord within you. Follow what he says. Who knows, you may run a long way, or just a few steps to speak or help someone in need. The same Holy Spirit who empowered Elijah to run, has empowered you to go. Go in the power of the Lord.
1 Kings 18:46
While I was driving the other day, I thought of this story. It's a very small statement about something that happened to the great prophet and man of God, Elijah. He had just had a showdown with the prophets of Baal. God did an amazing miracle, proving that he was the one true God. So the prophets of Baal were destroyed. It had not rained on the land for three and a half years. So afterward, Elijah began to pray for it to rain. Three times he prayed, three times he sent his servant to see if there were any clouds. Finally a cloud appeared and soon the land was bathed in cleansing rain. It is at this point that we find this little story about Elijah and the power of God.
On the surface, it doesn't look like much to talk about. But Bible historians tell us that the distance Elijah ran was probably about twenty eight miles. I don't know about you, but I would seriously need the power of the Lord to run twenty eight miles. Remember, in the days of the Old Testament, no one had the Holy Spirit living in them. Many times the Bible says "The Spirit of the Lord came on him," or other phrases like that. When needed, God strengthened the prophets, kings, and others to do his will. So Elijah, in the strength of the Lord, ran twenty eight miles and he did it fast enough to outrun king Ahab who was going to Jezreel as well.
I use this story to remind us that we have the power of the Holy Spirit in us. We might not be called to run a marathon for Jesus, but maybe we will. Whatever it is that God asks us to do, he will also empower us to accomplish it. This is why he has chosen to place his Spirit in us. We don't have to wait for the Spirit to come on us, we already have him in us. Therefore, we are already empowered to do what he is telling us to do. The only that stops us is our own unwillingness to follow through. If we believe the Holy Spirit has given something to do but we never launch out and do it, we have missed the point. If Elijah nad not run when he was supposed to, he never could have made the journey. So we must act when God speaks and empowers.
Today, this is a little reminder to us all. God lives in us. The Holy Spirit is in us to empower us to do the work of the ministry of Jesus Christ. So we too, have the power of God. We don't have to wait for it to come on us, we are assured that we already are equipped. Listen to the Holy Spirit. Some may call it "listening to your heart." Whatever you choose to call it, understand that you have the power of the Lord within you. Follow what he says. Who knows, you may run a long way, or just a few steps to speak or help someone in need. The same Holy Spirit who empowered Elijah to run, has empowered you to go. Go in the power of the Lord.
Friday, August 24, 2012
Jesus Under Fire
"Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus."
Luke 22:1&2
Just a few days before Jesus was arrested and crucified, the religious leaders of the day were looking for a way to kill him. This was not new, they had tried to find a way to kill him for his entire ministry. The opportunity had never come until Judas Iscariot approached them. He agreed to betray Jesus for fifty pieces of silver. It occurs to me that people are still "Looking for some way to get rid of Jesus."
Governments around the world are still trying to get rid of Jesus. Here in the United States, we hear new reports daily about the attacks perpetrated against Christian beliefs. They attempt to take Christ out of Christmas, to remove any public displays related to him, and to squelch the Christian voice in our nation. Some of the very things they try to remove are engraved in the very buildings our government officials work in. Why the attack? Why try to get rid of Jesus?
The verse following the one quoted here says that Satan entered Judas Iscariot. This resulted in the attack on Jesus. This is still true today. It is the work of the enemy to destroy everything on earth that Jesus stands for. The enemy could not destroy Jesus. He thought he had, but the resurrection proved to be not only a great victory for us, but the demise of Satan himself. The day Jesus died, Satan thought he had won. Instead, he lost everything he had. So knowing his fate is set, Satan works to convince people that Jesus is dead or irrelevant. Jesus is under fire and we his followers, are too.
Let's be encouraged today. Yes, Jesus is under fire and so are we, but as long as this is happening, we know that the kingdom of God is expanding. The enemy is lame and his attacks are nothing but noise. But his last gasps before he enters the lake of fire are encouragements for us to realize that Christ has won. The victory is his and therefore is ours as well. The fact that Jesus is under fire is encouragement for us that he is coming soon to establish his kingdom here. In the meantime we stand firm and wait for for the ultimate victory. Fire purifies. As long as we are in it, God is working to establish his kingdom in and through us. As we pray, his kingdom is established more and more here on earth. Jesus may be under fire, but he has already won. This is our reward.
Luke 22:1&2
Just a few days before Jesus was arrested and crucified, the religious leaders of the day were looking for a way to kill him. This was not new, they had tried to find a way to kill him for his entire ministry. The opportunity had never come until Judas Iscariot approached them. He agreed to betray Jesus for fifty pieces of silver. It occurs to me that people are still "Looking for some way to get rid of Jesus."
Governments around the world are still trying to get rid of Jesus. Here in the United States, we hear new reports daily about the attacks perpetrated against Christian beliefs. They attempt to take Christ out of Christmas, to remove any public displays related to him, and to squelch the Christian voice in our nation. Some of the very things they try to remove are engraved in the very buildings our government officials work in. Why the attack? Why try to get rid of Jesus?
The verse following the one quoted here says that Satan entered Judas Iscariot. This resulted in the attack on Jesus. This is still true today. It is the work of the enemy to destroy everything on earth that Jesus stands for. The enemy could not destroy Jesus. He thought he had, but the resurrection proved to be not only a great victory for us, but the demise of Satan himself. The day Jesus died, Satan thought he had won. Instead, he lost everything he had. So knowing his fate is set, Satan works to convince people that Jesus is dead or irrelevant. Jesus is under fire and we his followers, are too.
Let's be encouraged today. Yes, Jesus is under fire and so are we, but as long as this is happening, we know that the kingdom of God is expanding. The enemy is lame and his attacks are nothing but noise. But his last gasps before he enters the lake of fire are encouragements for us to realize that Christ has won. The victory is his and therefore is ours as well. The fact that Jesus is under fire is encouragement for us that he is coming soon to establish his kingdom here. In the meantime we stand firm and wait for for the ultimate victory. Fire purifies. As long as we are in it, God is working to establish his kingdom in and through us. As we pray, his kingdom is established more and more here on earth. Jesus may be under fire, but he has already won. This is our reward.
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
The Word of the Lord
"He said: 'Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. Tomorrow
march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz,
and you will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel. You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.'"
2 Chronicles 20:15-17
Sometimes we just need to hear a word of encouragement from God. I love the fact that the Bible is full of these and they are just as pertinent now as they were in the days of the Bible. King Jehoshaphat was facing a trying situation. The armies that stood against him far outnumbered his troops. Fear had already set in. So the prophet of God came and delivered this word from God to the king and all the people. There are some clear things that you and I need to hear today. This is the word of the Lord to us.
Do not be afraid. We face issues that may seem like a great army has come against us. But the key to coming through with victory is not allowing the enemy to instill fear. Fear and discouragement are tools of the enemy and he will use them to try to defeat us all the time. God is very clear about this; We are only to fear him. The enemy is not to be feared for we have authority over him. We need not be discouraged because the armies of the living God are on our side.
the battle is not ours, it is God's. the reason we have authority over the enemy has nothing to do with how righteous we are, or how good we have been. It is not because we are powerful or mighty. We have authority over the enemy because God gave it to us. He fights the battles for us. We don't have to do it on our own.
We must take up our positions. Although it is true that God fights the battle for us, we are still required to take up our positions. In other words, We must be strategically positioned to see the battle in front of us. This is called faith and that faith is manifested in our prayers. When we take our positions, we pray, releasing the armies of heaven to go and dispatch the forces of the enemy. Satan's defeat is imminent.
Stand firm and see the deliverance of the Lord. All that God requires is for us to stand firm. Brave soldiers do not shrink back in fear when they see the enemy before them. They square their shoulders and tell the commanding officer that they are ready and willing to go to battle. But we do not have to fight on our own. In fact, we don't have to fight at all. Instead, we pray and God brings the deliverance.
This is the word of the Lord to us today. We may be in battles. We may feel like the army before us is vast and strong. But our God is stronger. He will win the battle. He will fight for us. Instead of cowering in fear, let's stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will bring. These words were good for Jehoshaphat and they are still the word of the Lord for us.
2 Chronicles 20:15-17
Sometimes we just need to hear a word of encouragement from God. I love the fact that the Bible is full of these and they are just as pertinent now as they were in the days of the Bible. King Jehoshaphat was facing a trying situation. The armies that stood against him far outnumbered his troops. Fear had already set in. So the prophet of God came and delivered this word from God to the king and all the people. There are some clear things that you and I need to hear today. This is the word of the Lord to us.
Do not be afraid. We face issues that may seem like a great army has come against us. But the key to coming through with victory is not allowing the enemy to instill fear. Fear and discouragement are tools of the enemy and he will use them to try to defeat us all the time. God is very clear about this; We are only to fear him. The enemy is not to be feared for we have authority over him. We need not be discouraged because the armies of the living God are on our side.
the battle is not ours, it is God's. the reason we have authority over the enemy has nothing to do with how righteous we are, or how good we have been. It is not because we are powerful or mighty. We have authority over the enemy because God gave it to us. He fights the battles for us. We don't have to do it on our own.
We must take up our positions. Although it is true that God fights the battle for us, we are still required to take up our positions. In other words, We must be strategically positioned to see the battle in front of us. This is called faith and that faith is manifested in our prayers. When we take our positions, we pray, releasing the armies of heaven to go and dispatch the forces of the enemy. Satan's defeat is imminent.
Stand firm and see the deliverance of the Lord. All that God requires is for us to stand firm. Brave soldiers do not shrink back in fear when they see the enemy before them. They square their shoulders and tell the commanding officer that they are ready and willing to go to battle. But we do not have to fight on our own. In fact, we don't have to fight at all. Instead, we pray and God brings the deliverance.
This is the word of the Lord to us today. We may be in battles. We may feel like the army before us is vast and strong. But our God is stronger. He will win the battle. He will fight for us. Instead of cowering in fear, let's stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will bring. These words were good for Jehoshaphat and they are still the word of the Lord for us.
Monday, August 20, 2012
Love Never Fails
"Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away."
1 Corinthians 13:8
There are fundamental truths of the Christian faith. As we grow in our walk with God, we sometimes forget that these things are so vital that everything we believe is founded on them. One of these fundamental truths is love. Of course the thirteenth chapter of the first letter Paul wrote to the Corinthians is the greatest definitive statement about love that has ever been written. The discussion is not about God's love alone, but love in its entirety. God is the author of love and he is the absolute expression of love. He created love and every true kind of love known to man was birthed from the heart of our Creator. His love never fails.
As we move along in our Christian experience, we learn things that are incredibly important to our time on earth. The Bible teaches us how to live and delve into the great spiritual things of God. We love the gifts and manifestations that God has given us. But the truth of the scripture quoted above is this: All those things, no matter how important we think them to be, are temporary. They are things designed to help us access spiritual places while we live on the earth, but they will pass away. When we die and go to heaven, or when Jesus comes in the fullness of his kingdom, there will be no more use for spiritual gifts. But there is always a use for love. God continues to extend his love to us in many ways, and his love never fails.
Love should change the way we think about life. It is the foundation of everything we do. Our Christian lives are built on the precept of love. If we do anything not based on our love for others, our love for God, or his love for us, it amounts to nothing. The Bible says so much about love. It says that love covers over a multitude of sin. It says that love is patient and kind. It says everyone who loves is born of God. These are but a few, but we should see the paramount importance of love even through these few reminders. In my mind, the greatest thing the Bible says about love is; Love never fails.
There is a power in love that is not found anywhere else. Love will overcome evil, the struggles of life, pain, sickness, depression, and loss. It is the foundation of every good thing. If you have lost the conviction to love, regain it. All you do in this life will be judged on one thing: Did you love? Don't ever allow your good works or ministry to get in the way of the foundation of love. When we all die, we may leave a legacy that will be remembered for a while, but soon it will die as well. There is only one thing that remains through eternity, love. Be confident and rest assured of this one great truth; Love never fails!
1 Corinthians 13:8
There are fundamental truths of the Christian faith. As we grow in our walk with God, we sometimes forget that these things are so vital that everything we believe is founded on them. One of these fundamental truths is love. Of course the thirteenth chapter of the first letter Paul wrote to the Corinthians is the greatest definitive statement about love that has ever been written. The discussion is not about God's love alone, but love in its entirety. God is the author of love and he is the absolute expression of love. He created love and every true kind of love known to man was birthed from the heart of our Creator. His love never fails.
As we move along in our Christian experience, we learn things that are incredibly important to our time on earth. The Bible teaches us how to live and delve into the great spiritual things of God. We love the gifts and manifestations that God has given us. But the truth of the scripture quoted above is this: All those things, no matter how important we think them to be, are temporary. They are things designed to help us access spiritual places while we live on the earth, but they will pass away. When we die and go to heaven, or when Jesus comes in the fullness of his kingdom, there will be no more use for spiritual gifts. But there is always a use for love. God continues to extend his love to us in many ways, and his love never fails.
Love should change the way we think about life. It is the foundation of everything we do. Our Christian lives are built on the precept of love. If we do anything not based on our love for others, our love for God, or his love for us, it amounts to nothing. The Bible says so much about love. It says that love covers over a multitude of sin. It says that love is patient and kind. It says everyone who loves is born of God. These are but a few, but we should see the paramount importance of love even through these few reminders. In my mind, the greatest thing the Bible says about love is; Love never fails.
There is a power in love that is not found anywhere else. Love will overcome evil, the struggles of life, pain, sickness, depression, and loss. It is the foundation of every good thing. If you have lost the conviction to love, regain it. All you do in this life will be judged on one thing: Did you love? Don't ever allow your good works or ministry to get in the way of the foundation of love. When we all die, we may leave a legacy that will be remembered for a while, but soon it will die as well. There is only one thing that remains through eternity, love. Be confident and rest assured of this one great truth; Love never fails!
Friday, August 17, 2012
The Priority of Life
"Then he said to them, 'Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.'"
Luke 12:15
Lately, the Holy Spirit has been speaking to me about priorities. I've been learning that what God considers important is vastly different than what I consider to be important. His priorities are clearly different than mine. I live in a physical world full of difficulties. I am more concerned about money, food, and things than I should be. It's not that I've missed the point. I have always known that the kingdom of God is entirely different than our world. I understand that life is far more than having stuff. But walking in this truth is a process. It is a matter of putting off the old ways and taking on the new ones. Learning this way of life is serious business for us Christians.
There's a phrase that has gotten a lot of attention over the past few years. It says: "The one who dies with the most toys wins." I have disliked that statement from the first time I heard it, but it certainly sums up the mentality of the world in which we live. We simply cannot allow possessions to become so important that we lose our priorities. Please understand that God is not against us having possessions. Some have been blessed to the point that they may have many. The issue is not about how many things we have. The issue is how we think about those things. Are they so important that we can't give them up? Are we more sorrowful over losing some of our stuff or losing the blessing of the kingdom? This is where the conflict lies. This is exactly what God wants us to understand.
It is difficult to say it any better than Jesus did: "A man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." We will never gain peace and joy from having things. If we look for satisfaction in possessions, then the more stuff we have, the more we will need to satisfy our lust for it. Things are expendable, eternity is not. Who God created us to be and what he has called us to accomplish is what our lives are about. Everything else takes a back seat. Many times, Jesus told us not to worry about these things. Even food, shelter, and clothing are on the 'do not worry about' list. If we aren't to worry about these things, why would we waste our time worrying about peripheral, worldly things that will burn and be turned to dust?
I believe these are days in which God is challenging us more and more to forsake the things of the world and enter into the fullness of the kingdom of heaven. To respond correctly, we need to first change the way we think. We should examine ourselves and see if things have too great of a priority. After all, we may lose some things. The economy and the world are brittle. They can crack at any time. Many of us have faced this reality over the past several years. It may hurt to lose our stuff, but a much greater blessing is ours as we leap into the kingdom. Check yourself. What are your priorities in life? If there needs to be an adjustment, allow the Holy Spirit to guide you through the process. In the end, the blessings of heaven will flow.
Luke 12:15
Lately, the Holy Spirit has been speaking to me about priorities. I've been learning that what God considers important is vastly different than what I consider to be important. His priorities are clearly different than mine. I live in a physical world full of difficulties. I am more concerned about money, food, and things than I should be. It's not that I've missed the point. I have always known that the kingdom of God is entirely different than our world. I understand that life is far more than having stuff. But walking in this truth is a process. It is a matter of putting off the old ways and taking on the new ones. Learning this way of life is serious business for us Christians.
There's a phrase that has gotten a lot of attention over the past few years. It says: "The one who dies with the most toys wins." I have disliked that statement from the first time I heard it, but it certainly sums up the mentality of the world in which we live. We simply cannot allow possessions to become so important that we lose our priorities. Please understand that God is not against us having possessions. Some have been blessed to the point that they may have many. The issue is not about how many things we have. The issue is how we think about those things. Are they so important that we can't give them up? Are we more sorrowful over losing some of our stuff or losing the blessing of the kingdom? This is where the conflict lies. This is exactly what God wants us to understand.
It is difficult to say it any better than Jesus did: "A man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." We will never gain peace and joy from having things. If we look for satisfaction in possessions, then the more stuff we have, the more we will need to satisfy our lust for it. Things are expendable, eternity is not. Who God created us to be and what he has called us to accomplish is what our lives are about. Everything else takes a back seat. Many times, Jesus told us not to worry about these things. Even food, shelter, and clothing are on the 'do not worry about' list. If we aren't to worry about these things, why would we waste our time worrying about peripheral, worldly things that will burn and be turned to dust?
I believe these are days in which God is challenging us more and more to forsake the things of the world and enter into the fullness of the kingdom of heaven. To respond correctly, we need to first change the way we think. We should examine ourselves and see if things have too great of a priority. After all, we may lose some things. The economy and the world are brittle. They can crack at any time. Many of us have faced this reality over the past several years. It may hurt to lose our stuff, but a much greater blessing is ours as we leap into the kingdom. Check yourself. What are your priorities in life? If there needs to be an adjustment, allow the Holy Spirit to guide you through the process. In the end, the blessings of heaven will flow.
Thursday, August 16, 2012
Loving Neighbors
"'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’ and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'"
Luke 10:27
The one who spoke these words was not Jesus, but rather a Pharisee of whom Jesus had asked what the greatest commandments were. The Pharisee answered with these two which Jesus said was the correct answer. But Jesus went on to tell the parable about the good Samaritan. It is a very familiar story: A man who was traveling was attacked, robbed and left bleeding on the side of the road. First, a priest passed by but did not help. A Levite also passed by, but he moved to the other side of the road, leaving the man there. Then a Samaritan man came along and helped the wounded traveler. This is significant, because the Jews considered Samaritans an inferior race. They were outcasts, despised by the Jews. After Jesus finished telling the story, he asked the Pharisee, "Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?" Luke 10:36.
It casts a new light on who our neighbors really are. The Samaritan did not know the man at all. He was a stranger. We usually think of our neighbors as those who live near us, who reside in our neighborhoods. But Jesus was clearly pointing out that our neighbors are all mankind. He chose to tell a story in which the hero was a a member of a despised society. Anyone can love their neighbors and our own prejudice must be put aside.
Today, there are so many different facets to being a Christian, we sometimes forget the simple, foundational things Jesus taught. We get involved in ministry at our churches and it may consume our time. But these teachings have never changed. We are to love our neighbors today the same way Jesus taught two thousand years ago. It is important, in fact vitally important. The reality is this: We cannot love neighbors unless we first love God. It is impossible to love others if we are not in love with God. It is the most important aspect of the Christian life. Love God and then love people as a representative of God.
I don't even know all the neighbors who live on my street. Everyone keeps to themselves and there is very little interaction. If my neighbors are really all people, how can I love them? I think we must apply the Acts 1 concept: First, love those who are in Jerusalem. These are those on your street. Then love those in Judea. These are people who live in our own nation. Then love Samaria. These are people of other cultures and nations. And then love people to the ends of the earth. We may never meet all these people, but we certainly can love them with the love of Christ. We can pray for them with full assurance that God hears. There are few greater things in the kingdom of God then loving our neighbors. Let's never forget to reach all of them with the love of Christ.
Luke 10:27
The one who spoke these words was not Jesus, but rather a Pharisee of whom Jesus had asked what the greatest commandments were. The Pharisee answered with these two which Jesus said was the correct answer. But Jesus went on to tell the parable about the good Samaritan. It is a very familiar story: A man who was traveling was attacked, robbed and left bleeding on the side of the road. First, a priest passed by but did not help. A Levite also passed by, but he moved to the other side of the road, leaving the man there. Then a Samaritan man came along and helped the wounded traveler. This is significant, because the Jews considered Samaritans an inferior race. They were outcasts, despised by the Jews. After Jesus finished telling the story, he asked the Pharisee, "Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?" Luke 10:36.
It casts a new light on who our neighbors really are. The Samaritan did not know the man at all. He was a stranger. We usually think of our neighbors as those who live near us, who reside in our neighborhoods. But Jesus was clearly pointing out that our neighbors are all mankind. He chose to tell a story in which the hero was a a member of a despised society. Anyone can love their neighbors and our own prejudice must be put aside.
Today, there are so many different facets to being a Christian, we sometimes forget the simple, foundational things Jesus taught. We get involved in ministry at our churches and it may consume our time. But these teachings have never changed. We are to love our neighbors today the same way Jesus taught two thousand years ago. It is important, in fact vitally important. The reality is this: We cannot love neighbors unless we first love God. It is impossible to love others if we are not in love with God. It is the most important aspect of the Christian life. Love God and then love people as a representative of God.
I don't even know all the neighbors who live on my street. Everyone keeps to themselves and there is very little interaction. If my neighbors are really all people, how can I love them? I think we must apply the Acts 1 concept: First, love those who are in Jerusalem. These are those on your street. Then love those in Judea. These are people who live in our own nation. Then love Samaria. These are people of other cultures and nations. And then love people to the ends of the earth. We may never meet all these people, but we certainly can love them with the love of Christ. We can pray for them with full assurance that God hears. There are few greater things in the kingdom of God then loving our neighbors. Let's never forget to reach all of them with the love of Christ.
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Consolation
"When I said, 'My foot is slipping,' your love, O Lord, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul."
Psalm 94:18&19
I love the Psalms because they are so relevant to my life. Many times when I read them, they say something to God that I cannot. I know this is true for most of us. What we can't articulate on our own is said in powerful ways in the Psalms. There are times when we all feel exactly as the Psalmist did when he penned these words. There is only one place from which we can gain consolation for our souls: Only God can bring the needed peace and joy.
Do you ever feel that life is a slippery slope or a dangerously slippery rock that is being buffeted by the waves as we stand precariously on it? It is in those times that we sometimes feel like we are slipping and the unknown danger is frightening. We can cry out for help from people, but rarely will anyone be able to rescue us. Our help is found only in God. It is his love that supports us in such times. We may not feel that love, but the strong foundation that it creates in our lives is what sustains us in slippery situations. We ought to thank God daily for his incredible love.
We live in a world where anxiety seems to be the norm. People are anxious about everything. There is always a lack of money or a relationship. There are pills for virtually every kind of thing that can be wrong with us. If the condition we are in doesn't kill us, the pills for the condition will. So again, there is little help from people. What will comfort us and console us in such situations is God alone. The way we know that God has touched us is found in the depths of our spirits. When we have been touched and consoled by God, there will be a joy that surpasses understanding. It isn't a temporary happy feeling, it is the kind of joy that settles deeply within our souls and cannot be shaken by external sources. This is the blessing of relationship with God. In our times of need, when there is no help found anywhere else, he extends his love and consolation to us.
If you are in a place right now where it feels like you are slipping. If you are looking over the edge of the wet, slippery rock into a watery abyss of uncertainty, look to God. His love will sustain you. It is a solid footing when everything else seems to cause you to fall. If you are facing anxiety that cannot be comforted, ask God to come and console your heart. God is so responsive that he will never leave you nor forsake you. Receive his love and consolation. It is solid and it is the only true source of joy and stability. You may feel like you are slipping, but in reality God is holding onto you. Take his consolation.
Psalm 94:18&19
I love the Psalms because they are so relevant to my life. Many times when I read them, they say something to God that I cannot. I know this is true for most of us. What we can't articulate on our own is said in powerful ways in the Psalms. There are times when we all feel exactly as the Psalmist did when he penned these words. There is only one place from which we can gain consolation for our souls: Only God can bring the needed peace and joy.
Do you ever feel that life is a slippery slope or a dangerously slippery rock that is being buffeted by the waves as we stand precariously on it? It is in those times that we sometimes feel like we are slipping and the unknown danger is frightening. We can cry out for help from people, but rarely will anyone be able to rescue us. Our help is found only in God. It is his love that supports us in such times. We may not feel that love, but the strong foundation that it creates in our lives is what sustains us in slippery situations. We ought to thank God daily for his incredible love.
We live in a world where anxiety seems to be the norm. People are anxious about everything. There is always a lack of money or a relationship. There are pills for virtually every kind of thing that can be wrong with us. If the condition we are in doesn't kill us, the pills for the condition will. So again, there is little help from people. What will comfort us and console us in such situations is God alone. The way we know that God has touched us is found in the depths of our spirits. When we have been touched and consoled by God, there will be a joy that surpasses understanding. It isn't a temporary happy feeling, it is the kind of joy that settles deeply within our souls and cannot be shaken by external sources. This is the blessing of relationship with God. In our times of need, when there is no help found anywhere else, he extends his love and consolation to us.
If you are in a place right now where it feels like you are slipping. If you are looking over the edge of the wet, slippery rock into a watery abyss of uncertainty, look to God. His love will sustain you. It is a solid footing when everything else seems to cause you to fall. If you are facing anxiety that cannot be comforted, ask God to come and console your heart. God is so responsive that he will never leave you nor forsake you. Receive his love and consolation. It is solid and it is the only true source of joy and stability. You may feel like you are slipping, but in reality God is holding onto you. Take his consolation.
Monday, August 13, 2012
Filled Up
"Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry."
Luke 4:1&2
One of the greatest things we can learn as Christians is found in the scripture above. I love the fact that we do not face anything that God himself, in the person of Jesus, has not faced. This scripture takes place just before Jesus was released into full time ministry. He had been baptized in the Jordan River by John the Baptist. At that point, the Holy Spirit descended and Jesus was filled. This was absolutely critical before he could be released to do the miraculous things he did. The same is true of us. We must be full of the Holy Spirit as we go about the work of the kingdom here on earth.
I have run across many people who say that they have been filled with the Holy Spirit. These good Pentecostal folks are usually referring to a time when they were baptized in the Holy Spirit. I believe fully in this experience and its importance to live an empowered Christian life. But walking in the fullness of the Holy Spirit is different than having an experience and then proclaiming that one is filled. It is a daily choice to be filled with the Holy Spirit. We have to submit to him and his leading. We have to abandon anything else that may be considered more important. We must know that what counts is a life that is literally so full of the Holy Spirit that he will spill over into the world in which we live. Jesus was filled the day he was baptized in water, but he continued to walk in that fullness and it equipped him to face the onslaught of the enemy against him and the struggles of daily life.
Another key phrase in the scripture above is this: "(He) was led by the Spirit in the desert." Not only was Jesus full of the Holy Spirit, but he chose to be led by him. I also notice that it does not say that he was led INTO the desert, it says he was led IN the desert. All of us will face desert experiences. We walk in the desert all the time. The world is a desert. It has little that can sustain us or provide for us. The way we will be victorious in the desert is to allow ourselves to be led by the Holy Spirit. No matter what we face, we will be empowered to overcome. Jesus provided the example. He walked before us, so we follow what we see him do.
I can't emphasize how important this is to us. Just having the Holy Spirit within us is not enough.. Victory comes when we are so full of him that it spills out of us. It comes when we are led by him so much that every step is a yielding to what he has told us to do. This is true Christian living. This is abundant life in Christ. I want to walk in the fullness and leading of the Holy Spirit every moment of every day. This is how Jesus lived. Let's live being completely full of the Spirit of God.
Luke 4:1&2
One of the greatest things we can learn as Christians is found in the scripture above. I love the fact that we do not face anything that God himself, in the person of Jesus, has not faced. This scripture takes place just before Jesus was released into full time ministry. He had been baptized in the Jordan River by John the Baptist. At that point, the Holy Spirit descended and Jesus was filled. This was absolutely critical before he could be released to do the miraculous things he did. The same is true of us. We must be full of the Holy Spirit as we go about the work of the kingdom here on earth.
I have run across many people who say that they have been filled with the Holy Spirit. These good Pentecostal folks are usually referring to a time when they were baptized in the Holy Spirit. I believe fully in this experience and its importance to live an empowered Christian life. But walking in the fullness of the Holy Spirit is different than having an experience and then proclaiming that one is filled. It is a daily choice to be filled with the Holy Spirit. We have to submit to him and his leading. We have to abandon anything else that may be considered more important. We must know that what counts is a life that is literally so full of the Holy Spirit that he will spill over into the world in which we live. Jesus was filled the day he was baptized in water, but he continued to walk in that fullness and it equipped him to face the onslaught of the enemy against him and the struggles of daily life.
Another key phrase in the scripture above is this: "(He) was led by the Spirit in the desert." Not only was Jesus full of the Holy Spirit, but he chose to be led by him. I also notice that it does not say that he was led INTO the desert, it says he was led IN the desert. All of us will face desert experiences. We walk in the desert all the time. The world is a desert. It has little that can sustain us or provide for us. The way we will be victorious in the desert is to allow ourselves to be led by the Holy Spirit. No matter what we face, we will be empowered to overcome. Jesus provided the example. He walked before us, so we follow what we see him do.
I can't emphasize how important this is to us. Just having the Holy Spirit within us is not enough.. Victory comes when we are so full of him that it spills out of us. It comes when we are led by him so much that every step is a yielding to what he has told us to do. This is true Christian living. This is abundant life in Christ. I want to walk in the fullness and leading of the Holy Spirit every moment of every day. This is how Jesus lived. Let's live being completely full of the Spirit of God.
Friday, August 10, 2012
Responding Rightly
"The angel answered, 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God.'
'I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.' Then the angel left her."
Luke 1:35-38
Mary, probably about fifteen years old, received a visit from the angel Gabriel. This is the same angel who had earlier visited Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist. Gabriel had amazing, supernatural news for Mary. As incredible as it might seem, she was to give birth to a son. She was a virgin. In her mind she knew that this was impossible. Yet the angel made it clear that this was to be a supernatural event. It had to have sounded crazy, but she responded in complete faith: "May it be to me as you have said." No wonder Mary was chosen to bear the Christ child. She responded rightly to God.
When the angel told Zechariah that he and his wife Elizabeth would have a son in the natural way, he responded with disbelief, and he bore the consequences. But Mary received a far more amazing promise. She responded with faith. She believed God's promise and nothing would cause her to waiver. It happened exactly as the angel foretold. Mary delivered the baby Jesus in a stable in Bethlehem.
I've been asking myself a question: When God promises me something for my future, do I respond like Zechariah did or like Mary? Am I really living in faith, believing the miracle working power of God, or do I respond with disbelief? It seems to me that these things are key. If I respond in faith, it will be done to me just as God declares. But if I don't believe him and never show a willingness to receive it without questioning, I may face a rocky road to get to the place God wants me. My choice is to either believe the supernatural plan of God or reject it as impossible. I have made a decision to receive the promise of God for my life with full faith and confidence. May it be to me just as the Lord has said!
What do you think? As you look at your life, reviewing the promises that God has made to you, have you received them in faith or rejected them in disbelief? If the fulfillment has not come, maybe it's time to take inventory of your life and see if you have believed God and acted in faith to receive his promises. If you, like me, have not believed God and his word, it takes only a moment of confession and a new decision to start believing. God has a future for all of us. He has promises that are supernatural. Instead of living life always questioning the will of God, we should all respond to him as Mary did. We will receive his will into our lives and it will be glorious. He wants the best for us and he is offering it. We need only to respond rightly.
'I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.' Then the angel left her."
Luke 1:35-38
Mary, probably about fifteen years old, received a visit from the angel Gabriel. This is the same angel who had earlier visited Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist. Gabriel had amazing, supernatural news for Mary. As incredible as it might seem, she was to give birth to a son. She was a virgin. In her mind she knew that this was impossible. Yet the angel made it clear that this was to be a supernatural event. It had to have sounded crazy, but she responded in complete faith: "May it be to me as you have said." No wonder Mary was chosen to bear the Christ child. She responded rightly to God.
When the angel told Zechariah that he and his wife Elizabeth would have a son in the natural way, he responded with disbelief, and he bore the consequences. But Mary received a far more amazing promise. She responded with faith. She believed God's promise and nothing would cause her to waiver. It happened exactly as the angel foretold. Mary delivered the baby Jesus in a stable in Bethlehem.
I've been asking myself a question: When God promises me something for my future, do I respond like Zechariah did or like Mary? Am I really living in faith, believing the miracle working power of God, or do I respond with disbelief? It seems to me that these things are key. If I respond in faith, it will be done to me just as God declares. But if I don't believe him and never show a willingness to receive it without questioning, I may face a rocky road to get to the place God wants me. My choice is to either believe the supernatural plan of God or reject it as impossible. I have made a decision to receive the promise of God for my life with full faith and confidence. May it be to me just as the Lord has said!
What do you think? As you look at your life, reviewing the promises that God has made to you, have you received them in faith or rejected them in disbelief? If the fulfillment has not come, maybe it's time to take inventory of your life and see if you have believed God and acted in faith to receive his promises. If you, like me, have not believed God and his word, it takes only a moment of confession and a new decision to start believing. God has a future for all of us. He has promises that are supernatural. Instead of living life always questioning the will of God, we should all respond to him as Mary did. We will receive his will into our lives and it will be glorious. He wants the best for us and he is offering it. We need only to respond rightly.
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Questioning God
"Zechariah asked the angel, 'How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.'"
Luke 1:18
Zechariah was a righteous man. He was a priest who served at the temple of God. One day he was chosen to enter the temple by himself to burn incense. There he encountered the angel Gabriel who told him that his wife Elizabeth would have a son. Elizabeth had been barren her entire life and was now past her child bearing years. But the son that they would have would be John the Baptist, the one who would announce the coming of Christ. But Zechariah experienced a moment of unbelief. He questioned the plan of God. Gabriel told him that because of his unbelief, he would not be able to speak until the child was born. So for many months, he was unable to speak about the good news that was happening to him.
Sometimes, we are like Zechariah. We know that God has a plan for our lives. We understand that we are created and called for a specific purpose. But then when we are on the edge of receiving it, we question God. We are so insecure that we tell God we are not qualified to do what he has promised. We may say that we are unworthy to receive what he wants to give us. So we question God and end up suffering the consequences.
If Zechariah had simply believed and received what God was doing, he would have been much happier during the process. You see, there was a bit of a waiting time until the promise was fulfilled. That time could have been a wonderful celebration. Instead, it was a difficult time. The first thing Zechariah did after the child was born and he received his voice again, was to praise God. I wonder what would have happened if he had been able to praise God all the way through the process? He was a righteous man, but a moment of unbelief and doubt interrupted the joy.
Don't give up on the plans you know God has for you. When the moment of promise comes, never doubt God. No matter how incredible it seems, he will do what he promises. God's will is set. It is impossible to interrupt. What he has said he will do. So why not receive the promise and walk through the process with joy and praise? Instead of suffering through the waiting period, you can go through it with joy and praise. This is much better. It is the plan of God for us to praise him even while we wait for the promise to be fulfilled. It's a much better way than questioning God.
Luke 1:18
Zechariah was a righteous man. He was a priest who served at the temple of God. One day he was chosen to enter the temple by himself to burn incense. There he encountered the angel Gabriel who told him that his wife Elizabeth would have a son. Elizabeth had been barren her entire life and was now past her child bearing years. But the son that they would have would be John the Baptist, the one who would announce the coming of Christ. But Zechariah experienced a moment of unbelief. He questioned the plan of God. Gabriel told him that because of his unbelief, he would not be able to speak until the child was born. So for many months, he was unable to speak about the good news that was happening to him.
Sometimes, we are like Zechariah. We know that God has a plan for our lives. We understand that we are created and called for a specific purpose. But then when we are on the edge of receiving it, we question God. We are so insecure that we tell God we are not qualified to do what he has promised. We may say that we are unworthy to receive what he wants to give us. So we question God and end up suffering the consequences.
If Zechariah had simply believed and received what God was doing, he would have been much happier during the process. You see, there was a bit of a waiting time until the promise was fulfilled. That time could have been a wonderful celebration. Instead, it was a difficult time. The first thing Zechariah did after the child was born and he received his voice again, was to praise God. I wonder what would have happened if he had been able to praise God all the way through the process? He was a righteous man, but a moment of unbelief and doubt interrupted the joy.
Don't give up on the plans you know God has for you. When the moment of promise comes, never doubt God. No matter how incredible it seems, he will do what he promises. God's will is set. It is impossible to interrupt. What he has said he will do. So why not receive the promise and walk through the process with joy and praise? Instead of suffering through the waiting period, you can go through it with joy and praise. This is much better. It is the plan of God for us to praise him even while we wait for the promise to be fulfilled. It's a much better way than questioning God.
Monday, August 6, 2012
Concerning the Mouth
"Open wide your mouth and I will fill it."
Psalm 81:10b
" Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit."
Mark 13:11
We are very concerned about our mouths. It is the mouth that takes in food for our bodies. It is the mouth that tastes that food and judges whether it is good or bad. The mouth takes in water to sustain us. With our mouths, we speak. The Bible tells us that we can speak blessing or curses. We can speak helpful things or hurtful things. All this happens because we were created with mouths. But God has promised that he will take care of our mouths if we allow him to do it. All we need, and all we say can be orchestrated by God.
God has promised many times in his Word that he will care for us. From the beginning of time, God has provided food for people and animals. We who are blessed by God know that he will provide for our sustenance. Sometimes it may be plenty and sometimes it may be meager, but he cares for us and provides for his children. I do not understand why there are starving people in the world. None of us will ever understand this. But we who belong to God will be taken care of as surely as God has promised.
God will give us words to speak when we don't know what we ought to say. Because the Holy Spirit lives in us, we need never fear. No matter the circumstance, no matter what situation we find ourselves in, he will put the words in our mouths. All we need do is open our mouths and God will fill it with the right words. Most of us have not had to face situations where our lives literally depended on the words we speak. Many have, and some have lost their lives. But what counts is what God gives us to say. There are days coming when we must be faithful to allow the Holy Spirit to speak through us. For only he will know exactly what should be said. With him, there is no confusion. What he says through us will be perfect.
I think it's time to practice what we believe. If we know that God will care for us and feed us, let's believe it by faith and start walking in the freedom that comes along with that truth. We should stop worrying and start believing. Whether the jobs we have are good or bad, God will provide. He is our Helper and our Provider. When we speak to others, we can practice allowing the Holy Spirit to speak through us. We must put aside our own ideas and judgements in favor of his all knowing wisdom. We spend a lot of time worrying about our mouths. If we surrender them to God, he will take care of it. The point is this: Transfer control of your mouth from yourself to God. Only he can truly fill it with the words and blessings of heaven.
Psalm 81:10b
" Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit."
Mark 13:11
We are very concerned about our mouths. It is the mouth that takes in food for our bodies. It is the mouth that tastes that food and judges whether it is good or bad. The mouth takes in water to sustain us. With our mouths, we speak. The Bible tells us that we can speak blessing or curses. We can speak helpful things or hurtful things. All this happens because we were created with mouths. But God has promised that he will take care of our mouths if we allow him to do it. All we need, and all we say can be orchestrated by God.
God has promised many times in his Word that he will care for us. From the beginning of time, God has provided food for people and animals. We who are blessed by God know that he will provide for our sustenance. Sometimes it may be plenty and sometimes it may be meager, but he cares for us and provides for his children. I do not understand why there are starving people in the world. None of us will ever understand this. But we who belong to God will be taken care of as surely as God has promised.
God will give us words to speak when we don't know what we ought to say. Because the Holy Spirit lives in us, we need never fear. No matter the circumstance, no matter what situation we find ourselves in, he will put the words in our mouths. All we need do is open our mouths and God will fill it with the right words. Most of us have not had to face situations where our lives literally depended on the words we speak. Many have, and some have lost their lives. But what counts is what God gives us to say. There are days coming when we must be faithful to allow the Holy Spirit to speak through us. For only he will know exactly what should be said. With him, there is no confusion. What he says through us will be perfect.
I think it's time to practice what we believe. If we know that God will care for us and feed us, let's believe it by faith and start walking in the freedom that comes along with that truth. We should stop worrying and start believing. Whether the jobs we have are good or bad, God will provide. He is our Helper and our Provider. When we speak to others, we can practice allowing the Holy Spirit to speak through us. We must put aside our own ideas and judgements in favor of his all knowing wisdom. We spend a lot of time worrying about our mouths. If we surrender them to God, he will take care of it. The point is this: Transfer control of your mouth from yourself to God. Only he can truly fill it with the words and blessings of heaven.
Friday, August 3, 2012
Sweet Comfort
"After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words."
1 Thessalonians 4:17&18
I remember being in a room with a group of leaders. We were praying in preparation for the church service that day. As we stood in a circle, I heard the voice of the Holy Spirit speak to me. It was so strong that I felt it throughout my whole being. He said, "I am coming soon. Be reminded of this and receive comfort." So I spoke those words out loud. Immediately there was an unexplainable peace that filled the room. It settled on every person. We cried, praised God, and left, having been completely comforted by the words.
Somehow over the past several years, we have lost the importance of being comforted by these words.. We don't often talk about the fact that Jesus is coming back. In the 1970s and 1980s, it seemed as if every Christian song talked about the coming of the Lord. But then it waned and rarely do we hear it these days. But Paul wrote these words because they are vitally important. As we go through the rigors of life, we need to constantly remember that we are doing it for a reason: Jesus is coming! In the days of the New Testament, the believers would say, "Maranatha! Even so, come quickly, Lord!" They took comfort in this truth even though they would not see it in their lifetimes.
My perspective about the coming of the Lord has changed. I used to think of it as a divine rescue. I thought that he would come and deliver me out of this messy world so that I could escape the tribulations here. But now I see it this way: Jesus is coming back to establish his kingdom on the earth. He isn't coming just to rescue me, he is coming to give me the fulfillment of his promise. He is coming to establish his kingdom right here on earth. All will see the glory of God. This is something to be excited about. In this we can find true comfort.
Instead of wishing for a rescue, what if we began to long for his return because with it comes the physical manifestation of his kingdom? It is there that we will rule and reign with Christ. It is there that we will find peace forever. It is truly heaven on earth. All who have gone before us, all who are already in heaven look forward to this time with great expectation. So should we. It is the fulfillment of all we have hoped for, dreamed of, and lived expecting. Ah, the sweet comfort of the thought!
1 Thessalonians 4:17&18
I remember being in a room with a group of leaders. We were praying in preparation for the church service that day. As we stood in a circle, I heard the voice of the Holy Spirit speak to me. It was so strong that I felt it throughout my whole being. He said, "I am coming soon. Be reminded of this and receive comfort." So I spoke those words out loud. Immediately there was an unexplainable peace that filled the room. It settled on every person. We cried, praised God, and left, having been completely comforted by the words.
Somehow over the past several years, we have lost the importance of being comforted by these words.. We don't often talk about the fact that Jesus is coming back. In the 1970s and 1980s, it seemed as if every Christian song talked about the coming of the Lord. But then it waned and rarely do we hear it these days. But Paul wrote these words because they are vitally important. As we go through the rigors of life, we need to constantly remember that we are doing it for a reason: Jesus is coming! In the days of the New Testament, the believers would say, "Maranatha! Even so, come quickly, Lord!" They took comfort in this truth even though they would not see it in their lifetimes.
My perspective about the coming of the Lord has changed. I used to think of it as a divine rescue. I thought that he would come and deliver me out of this messy world so that I could escape the tribulations here. But now I see it this way: Jesus is coming back to establish his kingdom on the earth. He isn't coming just to rescue me, he is coming to give me the fulfillment of his promise. He is coming to establish his kingdom right here on earth. All will see the glory of God. This is something to be excited about. In this we can find true comfort.
Instead of wishing for a rescue, what if we began to long for his return because with it comes the physical manifestation of his kingdom? It is there that we will rule and reign with Christ. It is there that we will find peace forever. It is truly heaven on earth. All who have gone before us, all who are already in heaven look forward to this time with great expectation. So should we. It is the fulfillment of all we have hoped for, dreamed of, and lived expecting. Ah, the sweet comfort of the thought!
Thursday, August 2, 2012
House of Prayer
"On reaching
Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple area and began driving out those who
were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money
changers and the benches of those selling doves, and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. And as he taught them, he said, 'Is it not written: My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations?
But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.'"
Mark 11:15-17
Jesus drove the moneychangers from the temple. In attempting to fulfill the laws of the Old Testament, animal sacrifices were needed. People would come to the temple to sacrifice their animals in keeping with the regulations God instituted through the Mosaic law. So, to make things easier for those who were coming, vendors set up their booths in the temple grounds to sell birds and animals for people to sacrifice. The intent of the sacrifices had been completely lost. God's intent was never for people to purchase flawed animals or birds. The very laws they were trying to uphold were being violated for the sake of money. God was angry, Jesus was angry, and the moneychangers were evicted.
Today, we do not have to sacrifice at the temple. Our sacrifice has been offered once for all by Jesus himself. But there is something we need to understand about this story. Although we don't go to the temple to sacrifice, our own bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. We have become living temples for God to dwell. It seems to me that we need to ask ourselves some pertinent questions: Are we violating the temple of God with disobedient and sinful things? Have we allowed the the ways of the world to invade our temples? If we are temples of the Holy Spirit, then we are responsible to consecrate ourselves for his purpose. We must cast out the moneychangers!
Jesus said that his temple was to "...Be called a house of prayer." So the temples of the Holy Spirit should also be houses of prayer. These temples that are our lives, are to be used for the purposes of God. Any sin, unwholesomeness, and idolatry cannot dwell there. We are inundated with the pollution of the world all the time. We see, hear, and experience things that are not fit for the temple of God. We cannot avoid the influence, but what we do with it is what counts. If we reject the world's ways, we keep the temple pure. But if we hold onto these lies, our temple becomes polluted as surely as the temple in Jerusalem in Jesus' day. Instead, we should be linked to God. This is really what being a house of prayer is all about. We may not be consciously praying all the time, but if the temple is clean, we are in fellowship with God at all times.
I would like to be known as a person of prayer. I would like my legacy to be one that promotes life in the Holy Spirit. So I am challenged to clean out the moneychangers. Jesus was angry about this, I should be angry too. It is through this that I will become closer to God. He lives in this temple that is me. Dare I call my temple anything else but 'a house of prayer?' The goal is to be like Christ. I want my life to welcome him. I want my temple to be suitable for him to dwell within. Is it your goal? It is to us that Jesus says, "My house will be called a house of prayer." Let's live accordingly.
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
To Be the Greatest
"When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. Jesus called them together and said, 'You
know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over
them, and their high officials exercise authority over them, Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.'"
Mark 10:41-45
The disciples James and John, whom Jesus called, "The Sons of Thunder," had come to him with a request. They had heard all the things Jesus had taught regarding the kingdom of heaven. So they asked Jesus to allow one of them to sit on his left, and one on his right, when they entered his kingdom. Jesus let them know that this was not his to grant. The Father would reserve those places. When the other disciples heard about the request, they were upset with their fellow followers. It was at this point that Jesus called them all together and taught them a simple but incredibly important lesson.
First, he told them that the ways of the world don't work. Those who rule in the world, abuse their power by taking advantage of those who are subservient to them. They abuse their authority by separating themselves from others and taking the position of ruler over others. Thus, everything they say and do becomes condescending to the others. In the face of this kind of rule, Jesus presented an opposing scenario. He told them that rather than trying to become great, it was better, more efficient, and profitable to become a slave to others. In other words, he taught that we are to serve other people, no matter what our earthly position. He came to be a servant, not an earthly ruler. He exemplified the true meaning of servanthood.
Although we cannot provide the sacrifice Jesus did, though we cannot die to ransom all mankind, we can choose to be a servant to others. When we do this, we literally give up our lives for them. This is the kind of life that Jesus desires for us to live. When we do it, the kingdom of heaven is ours and our position there is solidified. There is no selfishness in the kingdom of God, no pride, no class system. We can't attempt to gain high position, because there is no value in that. To be a citizen of God's kingdom grants us every blessing. Everything the kingdom has to offer is ours.
Jesus made sure the disciples understood that none of them was superior to another. All were equal in his eyes. And so it is with us. Everyone who is seeking the kingdom, all who are taking hold of it, are equal. All who become servants to others will be great in the kingdom. The disciples understood something that some of us need to remember: The kingdom is the greatest, in fact the only thing that is worth seeking. This is why James and John asked. Jesus had taught them about the kingdom and they wanted all they could get. If we follow their example and the example of Christ, we will find the kingdom as well. Eternity will be glorious!
Mark 10:41-45
The disciples James and John, whom Jesus called, "The Sons of Thunder," had come to him with a request. They had heard all the things Jesus had taught regarding the kingdom of heaven. So they asked Jesus to allow one of them to sit on his left, and one on his right, when they entered his kingdom. Jesus let them know that this was not his to grant. The Father would reserve those places. When the other disciples heard about the request, they were upset with their fellow followers. It was at this point that Jesus called them all together and taught them a simple but incredibly important lesson.
First, he told them that the ways of the world don't work. Those who rule in the world, abuse their power by taking advantage of those who are subservient to them. They abuse their authority by separating themselves from others and taking the position of ruler over others. Thus, everything they say and do becomes condescending to the others. In the face of this kind of rule, Jesus presented an opposing scenario. He told them that rather than trying to become great, it was better, more efficient, and profitable to become a slave to others. In other words, he taught that we are to serve other people, no matter what our earthly position. He came to be a servant, not an earthly ruler. He exemplified the true meaning of servanthood.
Although we cannot provide the sacrifice Jesus did, though we cannot die to ransom all mankind, we can choose to be a servant to others. When we do this, we literally give up our lives for them. This is the kind of life that Jesus desires for us to live. When we do it, the kingdom of heaven is ours and our position there is solidified. There is no selfishness in the kingdom of God, no pride, no class system. We can't attempt to gain high position, because there is no value in that. To be a citizen of God's kingdom grants us every blessing. Everything the kingdom has to offer is ours.
Jesus made sure the disciples understood that none of them was superior to another. All were equal in his eyes. And so it is with us. Everyone who is seeking the kingdom, all who are taking hold of it, are equal. All who become servants to others will be great in the kingdom. The disciples understood something that some of us need to remember: The kingdom is the greatest, in fact the only thing that is worth seeking. This is why James and John asked. Jesus had taught them about the kingdom and they wanted all they could get. If we follow their example and the example of Christ, we will find the kingdom as well. Eternity will be glorious!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)