FOLLOW THE NEW COVENANT GUIDELINES FOR INJUSTICES

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”—Matthew 6:33

 

The people living under the Old Covenant had some very straight guidelines for dealing with injustices.  For example, kidnapping was punishable by death, as was cursing your mother or father.  Sorcery was punishable by death, mistreatment of a stranger was not permitted, and if someone borrowed anything from their neighbor who was not present when it became injured or died; restitution was expected.  It was taught “eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe” (Exodus 21-22). 

 

Under the New Covenant the guidelines for injustices are different than the Old Covenant’s.  Jesus taught “You have head that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also” (Matthew 5:38-39).  He taught that we are to love our enemies and bless the people who curse us.  Furthermore, we are instructed not to curse, and if someone forces us to go one mile we are to walk with that person two miles, and many other things (Matthew 5-8). 

 

Patrick Wood told how he was driving down a road one day and a big truck carrying a boat careened into his lane.  His reaction was to veer out of the path of the truck; he narrowly missed hitting the large boat motor which would have went through his windshield instantly killing him.  Thinking that he had somehow missed everything and that his live would be spared, he did not see the ditch, utility poles, and lake.  His car hit the utility poles which halted his car from plunging into the lake.  Miraculously, there was not a scratch on Patrick’s body, but his car was a total loss.  However, the guy driving the truck fled the scene of the accident leaving no evidence that he was the cause of the accident.  Patrick said that he felt, “humanly helpless,” and that was when he brought his case before God.  He based his prayer petition on Matthew 6:33 saying something like this, “Father, You said that if I seek first Your kingdom and Your righteousness my needs would be provided.  Now as far as I can tell, I’ve met my responsibility on that, obeying Your voice instead of the worlds.  Now, if I am mistaken, let me know, but please give me justice and a car.” 

 

One week after Patrick prayed the authorities phoned him and told him that a woman had witnessed the accident and followed the man who caused the accident.  She wrote down his license plate number.  Shortly after receiving the first call, his church called and said that someone had a car that they wanted to donate to him. Justice and a car had come to Patrick. 

 

One evening after Jesus’ crucifixion, Peter and some of his fellow disciples resumed their former careers on the Sea of Galilee.  They fished throughout the night, not catching anything.  As if losing their best friend was not enough, they must have been discouraged because no fish had been caught.  All of a sudden, a man appeared on the sea shore yelling, “Cast the net on the right-hand side of the boat.”  They took the advice reaping a harvest that was reminiscent of other times when Peter had taken Jesus’ advice on fishing (John 21:1-6). 

 

Likewise, our needs are met when we heed Jesus’ instruction.  Essential to seeking God’s kingdom and experiencing its “terms of provision” is obeying the One seated on its throne.  Confident that you are living this way, take comfort in His power to provide, be assured of His desire to do so, and place your trust in the timing of His choice.  You will not be disappointed.

 

Prayer—Father I repent for the times that I have sought my own justice instead of Yours, and I ask You to forgive me.  Today I look to You for Your justice and provision in my life, in Jesus Name. Amen.

 

THE HOLY SPIRIT CONVICTS US OF SIN

“He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”—John 3:18

 

  Apparently there were a lot of people in Martha’s house when Jesus came to visit one day.  Mary, Martha’s sister, chose to sit and listen to what Jesus was saying, instead of helping Martha serve the people.  Martha became emotionally upset with Mary, and went to Jesus with her problem.  Jesus replied to Martha that she was troubled about a lot of things, but her sister had chosen to do the best thing, by worshipping Him (Luke 10: 38-42).  Notice that Jesus never rebuked Martha, but rather exhorted her that her priorities were not in order.  When the Lord deals with problem areas in our lives, it is always for our good—not punishment.  We should not receive it has rejection.  This is one way that we can discern God’s correction from the devil’s accusation:  Is it condemning?

 

The Holy Spirit convicts us of sin, but He does not condemn us.  Conviction is solely for our good, while condemnation includes punishment.  Satan condemns Christians, but he does it illegally because Romans 8:1 says, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.”  If we feel condemned, we have received condemnation and shame from the devil.  This is not from God.

 

The way the Lord convicts us is through the inner ministry of the Holy Spirit.  “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you” (John 14:16-17).  This is always done in a positive manner that encourages us to turn from sin.  The enemy’s negative way condemns us for sinning, which makes us feel trapped in it; but the Holy Spirit gently and firmly leads us away from sin and gives us hope and faith to overcome it completely.

 

One of Satan’s lies is to keep Christians in bondage tell them that they have gone too far and now they are eternally condemned and separated from God.  However, this is contrary to the Word of God.  “Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?...Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:33-39).

 

Christ is not condemning you.  If you are about to sin or have sinned, He will let you know about it.  Just stick with Jesus and He will correct you and keep you out from under the devil’s condemnation.

 

Prayer—Father I thank You that You love me and that You are not condemning me.  Forgive me for the times that I did not know that You do not condemn, nor do you ever lead me into temptation, but You deliver me from evil.  Thank You for your correction in my life, lead me in the way of everlasting life, in Jesus Name. Amen.

STANDING THE TEST OF TIME

“And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended.”—Mark 4:17

 

When people have been married for many years, you might hear the expression used, “their marriage stood the test of time.”  However, this could also be said about friendships.  Have you ever wondered what the expression means, “it stood the test of time?”  Most generally, it means that something endured over a long period of time.  In other words, endurance is the central idea of “standing the test of time.”

 

In our verse for today, Apostle Mark is referring to people who have heard the Word of God, but because they lack the quality of endurance they are easily offended when persecution comes.  We read here, that man’s natural human reasoning cannot provide the endurance—that quality that will stand the test of time.  It is only through the blood-bought covenant that we have with Jesus Christ that we as Christians can have the ability to endure—to stand the test of time. 

 

Beloved, endurance means, the survival or persistence of something despite the ravages of time.  It is exciting to think that the Bible has survived the test of time.  God Word endures forever.  He spoke the worlds into existence.  God’s spoken Word has endured the test of time.  We hold onto His Word and not man’s wisdom; therefore, we are able to survive and thrive in this new millennia reign because it is God and His word that has stood the “test of time.”

 

Prayer—Father in the name of Jesus, I as you to touch my mind and forgive me when I trusted in man’s natural human reasoning, instead of relying upon your Eternal Word for my life and ministry.  Now, Lord I ask you to pluck up anything in my life that does not reflect you and what will “stand the test of time,” in Jesus Name. Amen.

KEEP A SINGLE FOCUS

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

 

In the midst of difficult times and adversity, it is easy for our trust to flounder and for our eyes to drift from Jesus to the problem.  Once our focus shifts away from God, the problem becomes magnified.  Negative thinking can overwhelm faith and extinguish courage.  It is during this time that we may be tempted to quit.  This is what happened to Peter the night that Jesus was arrested.

 

Before Jesus was betrayed and arrested, He told His disciples that they would come upon difficult times, and that they would all “stumble.”  He assured them that He would meet them again in Galilee; however, at the time the disciples did not grasp that He was talking about His death and resurrection.  In fact, Peter boldly declared that he would not “stumble;” but Jesus told him that he would deny Him that night three times before the rooster crowed.  Not long after Jesus told His disciples this would happen, Judas betrayed Him and Jesus was arrested.  During all of the dangerous turmoil surrounding Jesus’ arrest and being brought before the high priest, Peter mingled with the crowd pretending to be one of them.  However, a servant girl thought that she recognized Peter as one of Jesus’ followers and accused him.  Peter denied the accusation by saying, “I do not know what you are saying.” A short time later another girl accused him and this time he said with an oath, “I do not know the Man!”   Then the third time he was accused by several other people of being with Jesus and he responded with cursing and swearing and denials of knowing Jesus.  “Immediately a rooster crowed. And Peter remembered the word of Jesus who had said to him, ‘Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.’ So he went out and wept bitterly” (Matthew 26).

 

Peter’s experience paints a clear picture for us today.  Although Jesus had forewarned the disciples what was about to happen, Peter still tried to work things out in his own strength which was a dismal failure.  Too often, we tend to see the adversity or difficulty in terms of our own strength and resources rather than God’s.  However, when our focus shifts to a godly perspective the doom and gloom of failure, turns to gladness and we experience joy.  The Lord has told us that we would experience adversity and difficulties in life, but that we are to have peace and to be happy because He has already won the victory for us (John 16:33).  We can be like the Apostle Paul, by keeping our focus on the Lord, and saying with him, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).

 

Prayer—Father I purpose in my heart to keep my eyes and heart focused upon You at all times.  With Your help, I will never falter nor fail, in Jesus Name. Amen.

OBEDIENCE CARRIES A PRICE, BUT THE REWARD IS GREAT

“For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.”   Romans 5:19

 

Mary was not married to Joseph when she became pregnant with Jesus. Immediately after she told the angel, “be it unto me according to your word,” she left to visit her cousin Elizabeth whom the angel had told her was also pregnant.  Mary was gone from her home town for three months before she returned (Luke 2:38, 39, 56).  Although Joseph considered how not to marry his finance because she was pregnant, and he knew that it was not his baby, he was obedient to the words of the angel.  “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows; when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit.  And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her; planned to send her away secretly.  But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.  She will bear a Son; and you shall call his name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins…,’ And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife, but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus” (Matthew 1:18-25). 

 

The Bible does not give us the details of what his or Mary’s family thought of this pregnancy out of wedlock.  But in that day and in that cultural they were likely to have suffered from cruel public opinion and rejection.  Joseph was a humble, but poor man and yet he was immediately obedient to the voice of God and was willing to pay the price of being rejected by his own people for being obedient.  Furthermore, he was willing to deny himself conjugal rights as a husband until after the Jesus was born.  Some people are not willing to be apart from their spouses to fast and pray; but Joseph chose to be obedient and pay the price.

 

As the time of the birth of Jesus drew near, Joseph was obedient to the government’s decree that every one must go and register so that a census could be taken.  He traveled about 80 miles with a very pregnant wife to the city of Bethlehem to register braving the bands of thieves and robbers.  Once they arrived, there was no place for them to stay, but in a stable.  The time for Mary’s delivery was at hand and an angel appeared to some shepherds  and said, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.  This will be a sign for you’ you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger” (Luke 2:10-12). 

 

The men wore a garment under their clothes called, “swaddling.”  This swaddling was used to wrap the man in if he died while he was traveling.  The “swaddling” was used to wrap the body in.  Joseph took his “swaddling” cloth and wrapped the new born babe in “swaddling,” to fulfill the prophetic word of the angel—that when they found a baby wrapped in a manger with “swaddling” clothes this would be the Savior—Christ the Lord.  Joseph was obedient to take his death clothes to wrap the tiny infant in so that prophecy would be fulfilled. 

 

There is a price to be obedient, but the reward is great.   When we place our trust in a sovereign God and wait upon His timing, we have nothing to fear from the world.

 

Prayer—Father I thank You that you have a plan for my life.  I may not always understand everything that I am going through, but I trust in You and with Your help I will always be obedient, in Jesus Name. Amen.

YOUR HEART IS WHAT MATTERS TO GOD

“And He said, ‘what comes out of a man, that defiles a man. For from with, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. Al these evil things come from within and defile a man.”—Mark 7:20-23

 

The outward appearance of a person is not important.  It is the condition of a person’s heart that matters to God.  However, mankind has not always understood this.  The covenant of circumcision was give to Abram in Genesis 17:9-14.  God said that any man who did not carry this sign of the covenant in his flesh was to be killed.  This placed a great importance on the act of circumcision.  The Apostle Paul tells us that Abraham had already been justified by faith before he was circumcised, in Romans 4:3-13.  Abram’s faith in God and His promise saved him at least thirteen years before He commanded Abram to be circumcised.

 

Down through the centuries, the Jews turned their focus to the outward act of circumcision instead of the inward act of faith as the reason for salvation.  This was a source of contention between Jesus and the religious leaders too.  They emphasized all the outward acts the Lord had commanded and were totally disregarding the condition of their hearts.  Jesus said that if an individual would cleanse their heart, their actions would inevitably change too. 

 

The condition of a person’s flesh is not the important thing.  God is interested in a person’s heart, not if their flesh has been circumcised or not.  Today, the religious questions center around the doctrine of water baptism, church membership, and other outward acts that some preach are necessary for salvation. 

 

Your faith in the love of God, as expressed through Jesus on the Cross and in His resurrection is the only thing God demands for your justification.  Religious rites mean nothing when it comes to salvation.  Your heart is what matters to God.  You can rejoice today that your heart safely trust in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. 

 

Prayer—Father I thank You that my heart is right with You and because it is out of the abundance of my heart my mouth will utter things that are pleasing to You, in Jesus Name. Amen.

SPIRITUAL POVERTY IS NOT GOD’S PLAN

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.”—James 1:7

 

The world often distorts the Lord’s character.  To the unbelieving eyes, God can appear as a harsh ruler who is quick to condemn any disobedience.  Somehow that false view has infected our churches as well.  There are believers who approach the Lord as if He were a stingy old man doling out shreds of love, grace, and forgiveness, little by little.  But spiritual poverty is not the Father’s plan for His children!

 

At salvation, we received every good gift that God intends to give to us; forgiveness, redemption, righteousness, a place in His family, and much more.  There is a misguided notion among some believers that the Lord’s grace to us increases as our faith matures.  If that were accurate, we would be earning His blessing through works.  The truth is that spiritual growth broadens our capacity to recognize and enjoy His grace in our lives.

 

Sadly, plenty of people feel unworthy to enjoy the Lord’s blessings.  Thankfully, we do not have to merit His goodness, because none of us would be able to do so.  In fact, Ephesians 2:8-9, (“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is a gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast”) underscores the fact that God operates on the basis of His grace rather than our works.  Think of how big, wide and deep His love is—He adores, blesses, and showers us with grace because He wants to and not because we have earned it.

 

Our heavenly Father is not stingy.  He opens His hand wide to pour out grace upon us.  Instead of sampling meager bites of His Word and His presence on Sunday, we ought to devour whole “meals” every day.  Follow the psalmist’s advice to “taste and see that the Lord is good” (Psalm 34:8). 

 

Prayer—Father I thank You that I do not have to earn Your grace and that it is freely given to me.  I purpose in my heart to be more aware of Your grace at work in my life, in Jesus Name. Amen.

SEE A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE THROUGH YOUR SPIRITUAL EYES

“I have set the Lord continually before me; because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.”—Psalm 16:8

 

Reading this Psalm we can see that David was confident that the Lord was always at his right hand.  David’s psalms reveal that in surveying his life, he saw God’s fingerprints all over it.  Like David, we must train our spiritual eyes to notice the evidence of our heavenly Father’s presence. 

 

Seeing with spiritual eyes is not an ever-once-in-awhile thing—it is a lifestyle.  Just like a runner training to run a marathon, you cannot run once-a-week or once-a-month and expect to be in shape to run.  In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8-emphasis added).  Those who walk before the Lord with a clear conscience will take captive unholy thoughts, habits, attitudes, and words.  They cast out sin and live in righteousness, and as a result, such believers have a spiritual clarity that sharpens their awareness of God’s presence and involvement in their lives. 

 

Here are some ways to train your eyes to see God:

 

 Thank Him even in the small things.  For a place to lay down your head to sleep; for the air you breathe, for the food you have, “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

 

Keep your eyes focused on Him.  When we watch others, or television, or the internet, or face book, etc. more than we do Him, we are training are eyes to see in the natural; not in the spiritual.

Daily Read the Word of God.  Reading the Word of God keeps your eyes on how God sees.

Pray that your spiritual eyes would be open so that, “the eyes of your understanding [will be] enlightened…” (Ephesians 1:18).

Develop a habit of recalling the events of your day before falling asleep.  Try to recall the events of your day looking for the evidence of God at work in your life.  See How He guided you in your decisions.  How did He answer your question?  How did He protect you in situations?  How did He help you in relationships?

The evidence of God’s great power is all over your life, if only you will see it.  Viewing the world with open spiritual eyes changes your perspective.  Instead of saying, “I can not, say, I can because the Lord always gives me the ability.” 

Prayer—Father I thank You for my spiritual eyes.  I ask You to help me train my spiritual eyes to see the reality that You want me to see, in Jesus Name. Amen.

 

 

 

TRUST GOD’S GOODNESS IN YOUR LIFE

“For we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus as leaning of your entire human personality on Him in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom and goodness…”—Colossians 1:4

 

The Scriptures instruct us that we are to come to Jesus with child-like faith.  We can come to Him with confidence and have reliance upon His character, ability and strength.  The disciples put their trust in Him time-and-time again.  For example, when there was not enough food to feed the crowds of people, they did what Jesus told them to do; they took a few fish and loaves of bread and passed it out among the thousands of people.  Can you imagine how it must have been like to begin to pass out the food among the great crowds of people?  They had never been in a situation like that before.  They simply trusted the Words of Jesus; did what He said to do, and then began to witness the fish and loaves of bread multiplied. 

One of the first times that I believed God for bread was when we lived on the farm.  I needed to buy some bread and did not have enough money to buy a loaf of bread.  So, I prayed and asked God for some bread quoting Proverbs 37:25, “I have been young and now I am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his descendants begging bread.”    A few hours after I had prayed, a man came to our door with several loaves of bread. I learned that I could trust His goodness in my life.  Today trust His goodness to meet your every need. 

 

Rahab, the harlot, is another example of someone who put her confidence in God.  When she hid the spies that Joshua sent into Jericho, from the king of the country, she chose to trust in God for deliverance when the Israeli army invaded their city.   She was not disappointed; her life and lives of her family members were spared (Joshua 2).   You can trust Him for your deliverance. “How blessed is he who considers the helpless; the Lord will deliver him in a day of trouble, the Lord will protect him and keep him alive, and he shall be called blessed upon the earth; and do not give him over to the desire of his enemies’ (Psalm 41:1-2).

 

The main speaker at a business seminar that I attended related the following testimony of how he had been blessed.  He said that he had over 3,000 employees world-wide, and had several business and personal advisors.  However, there were times that their advice was not always enough.  During these times, he would schedule specific times to pray and seek God’s wisdom throughout his busy day. Without fail, he always received wisdom and insight that he had not previously known.  “Blessed is the man who listens to [Wisdom] me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors” (Proverbs 8:34). 

 

There are times that we have put our trust in people and they have disappointed and even failed us; however, the unfaithfulness of people does not change the faithfulness of God.  God’s goodness never changes.  When we put our faith and trust Him, His goodness is at work in our lives.

 

Prayer—Father I purpose in my heart to trust you and to seek your wisdom for life’s challenges.  Thank you that I can trust your goodness to be at work in my life, in Jesus Name. Amen.  

 

 

GOD HAS A PLAN TO RESCUE YOU

“Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You.  Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name, my soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, and my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips.”—Psalm 63: 3-5

 

Jericho was completely shut off from the children of Israel.  No one could go in or out of the city.  Rahab, the harlot, and her family were shut-up within this city.  The army of Israel was on the outside of the walls.  The same people whom Rahab had helped were now encamped against her city. 

 

Today you may be facing a similar situation as Rahab, and feel completely shut off from any help or solution to a problem.   Perhaps you have rescued some of God’s children, and you yourself, now need to be rescued.  I want to encourage you today that just as God had a plan for rescuing Rahab and her family; He has a plan to rescue you.  He is saying to you today: in the day of trouble I will come to you I will rescue you.  I will never leave you.  I will never forsake you.     

 

The very plan that God gave to Joshua to take the city of Jericho was the plan that rescued Rahab.   Because God honors His Word above His Name, He will honor His Word that He has given to you.  The plan that God gave to Joshua and the army of Israel was to march around the city once a day for six days not saying a word.  Seven priests were to carry seven rams’ horns before the ark; however the seventh day the army was to march around the city seven times and then the priest were to blow the ram’s horn.  When the people of Israel heard the sound of the trumpet they were to shout with a great shout.  The army of Israel and the priest obeyed the plan of the Lord.  On the seventh day they went around the city seven times, and when the people heard the blast of the ram’s horn a loud shout went up and the walls of the city fell down.  Rahab and her family were the only people in the city whose lives were spared that day because they put their faith in a delivering God (Joshua 6).

 

The word “shout” as used in this scripture means to shout for joy, according to Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible.   Praise according to Webster’s Third New International Dictionary means, “The act of glorifying or extolling God.”  Praise means speaking well of, extolling, or magnifying the virtues of someone.  Praise comes from a close relationship with God.  Praise must always be vocal.  It is not silent.  Thanksgiving occurs when we whisper a prayer of thanks to God.  But, praise occurs when we tell someone else about God’s goodness.

 

One of the words used for praise in the book of the Psalms is shabach.  In Psalm 63:3-4 David says, “Because thy loving kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee [shabach].  Thus will I bless thee while I live.”   David was saying that he would give a loud shout for joy unto the Lord.  There is a time when it is appropriate to give a loud shout of praise unto the Lord.  This is the kind of praise that STOPS the Devil and advances the plans of God.

 

Put your faith in God’s rescuing plan; begin to shout the praises of God, and see the Devil’s plan stopped and God’s plan advance.

 

Prayer—Father I thank you that you have given me a weapon of praise to use to stop the Devil and advance your plan of rescue for me, in Jesus Name. Amen.

 

ENJOY THE BEAUTY OF COMMUNION

“O God, You are my God; early will I seek You; my soul thirst for You; My flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, and my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips.”—Psalm 63:1,5

 

The word communion means to have a feeling of emotional or spiritual closeness.  When you have a shared closeness to someone either emotional or spiritual, you share a connection, in other words, you have a relationship.  God created men and women to be in a shared relationship with Him enjoying the beauty of their communion with Him.  However, sin entered the human race and that intimate relationship was broken, and it has been passed down through the generations in that damaged condition. 

 

But, as you may know, that is not the end of the story.  God sent His son Jesus to die in our place so our sins might be forgiven and our relationship with Him restored.  Through faith in Christ, we are adopted into God’s family and belong to Him forever—just as He originally meant for it to be.  We are restored to Him, and He has provided us with everything we need to experience intimacy with Him. 

 

We commune with God though His Word, through time spent in His presence, through the fellowship of other believers, through the Holy Spirit, and as the Apostle Paul wrote, “That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings being conformed to His death” (Philippians 3:10). 

 

If you have drifted away from having an intimate relationship with Him, no matter what the reason may be, today, I encourage you to draw near to your Heavenly Father, and experience the blessings of knowing Him more today than you did yesterday.

 

Prayer—Father I purpose in my heart to draw near to You.  Forgive me for the times I have let other things stand in the way of our relationship.  Thank You for revealing Yourself to me in a more intimate way in Jesus Name. Amen.

BE SKILLED IN YOUR GIVING

“Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves, a good foundation for the time to come that they may lay hold on eternal life”—1 Timothy 6:17-19

 

The more skilled you are at a task, the more you’ll enjoy it. For instance, when an orchestra adeptly plays a masterpiece, an accomplished musician will derive greater pleasure from listening than would a person with an untrained ear. You might be surprised to learn that the same is true of giving.

God has many reasons for asking us to give. First, by returning a portion of our wealth to the Lord, we are acknowledging that everything actually belongs to Him, “For every beast of the forest is Mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills…For the world is Mine and all its fullness” (Psalm 50:10, 12b).   Second, giving is a way to obey, “Speak to the children of Israel, that they bring Me an offering, from everyone who gives it willingly with his heart you shall take My offering” (Exodus 25:2).  Third, when we contribute to a ministry or reach out to help the needy, we participate in kingdom work, which brings deep joy. Fourth, our offerings are an opportunity for God to reveal His character; as we demonstrate generosity, He faithfully provides for our needs and blesses us abundantly, “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8).   Over and over again, the saying, “You can’t out-give God” proves true.

Giving involves more than money. God has blessed us with talents, time, and resources— along with plenty of opportunities to share them with others. It is important to rely on the Holy Spirit’s guidance so we will know what, to whom, and how much we should give.

Remember, the Lord is continuously giving to us: salvation, comfort, encouragement, breath, life, and countless other blessings. We are indebted to Him and should give back, not just out of obligation, but with gratitude and joy, “So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7).  Ask God to reveal any selfishness or other hindrance to sharing—and to help you become more skilled at giving.

Prayer—Father I thank You for the blessing of giving.  I ask You to reveal any selfishness or hindrance in my life that holds me back from giving and sharing what You have given to Me, in Jesus Name. Amen.

 

 

SPIRITUAL POVERTY IS NOT GOD’S PLAN

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.”—James 1:7

The world often distorts the Lord’s character.  To the unbelieving eyes, God can appear as a harsh ruler who is quick to condemn any disobedience.  Somehow that false view has infected our churches as well.  There are believers who approach the Lord as if He were a stingy old man doling out shreds of love, grace, and forgiveness, little by little.  But spiritual poverty is not the Father’s plan for His children!

 

At salvation, we received every good gift that God intends to give to us; forgiveness, redemption, righteousness, a place in His family, and much more.  There is a misguided notion among some believers that the Lord’s grace to us increases as our faith matures.  If that were accurate, we would be earning His blessing through works.  The truth is that spiritual growth broadens our capacity to recognize and enjoy His grace in our lives.

 

Sadly, plenty of people feel unworthy to enjoy the Lord’s blessings.  Thankfully, we do not have to merit His goodness, because none of us would be able to do so.  In fact, Ephesians 2:8-9, (“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is a gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast”) underscores the fact that God operates on the basis of His grace rather than our works.  Think of how big, wide and deep His love is—He adores, blesses, and showers us with grace because He wants to and not because we have earned it.

 

Our heavenly Father is not stingy.  He opens His hand wide to pour out grace upon us.  Instead of sampling meager bites of His Word and His presence on Sunday, we ought to devour whole “meals” every day.  Follow the psalmist’s advice to “taste and see that the Lord is good” (Psalm 34:8). 

 

Prayer—Father I thank You that You are not stingy and that through Your revelation I can know the things that are freely given to me.  I purpose in my heart to be more aware of Your grace at work in my life, and Your good gifts, in Jesus Name. Amen.

STAY HUMBLE AND WALK IN THE REVELATION THAT YOU HAVE

“And I [Paul] went up by revelation, and communicated to them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles…”—Galatians 2:2

 

What the Apostle Paul was saying in Galatians 2:2, is that he went to Jerusalem about seventeen years after his conversion because it was divinely revealed to him that he should go and tell the church what he had been preaching among the Gentiles.  Read Galatians chapter 1 and you will discover that Paul was a highly educated and zealous man who worked fervently persecuting the Church before his conversion.  After his conversion, Paul writes, “But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mothers womb and called me through His grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus” (vs. 15-17).  Paul points out that he was not influenced by others in what he should do after his conversion, but he walked in the revelation that he had.

 

John chapter 7 gives an account of when Jesus’ brothers did not believe that He was the Messiah, and how they tried to influence Him so that they would have positions of honor. 

 

“After these things Jesus walked in Galilee; for He did not want to walk in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill Him. Now the Jews’ Feast of Tabernacles was at hand. His brothers therefore said to Him ‘Depart from here and go into Judea, that Your disciples also may see the works that You are doing. For no one does anything in secret while he himself seeks to be known openly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.’ For even His brothers did not believe in Him. The Jesus said to them, ‘My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready. The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil. You go up to the feast. I am not yet going up to this feast, for My time has not yet fully come’” (vs. 1-9).

 

The Feast of Tabernacles was held the 15-22 of September and this Feast was about seven months before His crucifixion.  This was a very solemn time for all the Jewish males and called for their personal attendance.  Jesus’ brothers (some of His kindred) tried to influence Jesus to go to Jerusalem so that more people could see His miracles.  This sounds like reasonable advice at first glance—more people get exposed to His ministry; however, reading a little further you discover that his brothers did not believe that He was the Messiah.  A Prophet—Yes but not the Messiah.  Perhaps they were thinking that they would be able to share in the “lime-light” if He was exposed to more people.  But, what we do know is that Jesus told them to go along with the other people; he was not going to Jerusalem at that time.  Closely examine the Scriptures and you will see that Jesus knew by revelation not to follow along with the rest of the people who were going.  Perhaps His going with them would have stirred up the people with animosity before it was prophetically time for His crucifixion, we do not know for sure.  But we do know that Jesus always walked in revelation of His timing and did not follow along with the crowd, and you can to. 

 

Jesus was not moved by ideas of grandeur and influenced by the needs of others.  He humbly stayed submitted to the Father and never did anything but what He heard the Father say and do.  We can walk in that same revelation by staying humble, walking in love and being submitted to the Father.

 

Prayer—Father I thank You for Your revelation.  I purpose not to walk ahead of my appointed times by being influenced by family and others in Jesus Name. Amen. 

 

 

 

 

 

WORK UNTO THE LORD; NOT AT A JOB

“And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men.”—Colossians 3:23

 

In order to work, “as to the Lord rather than for men,” you must first begin with employment that honors Him.  Just because you have a chance to make money at a job does not mean you should necessarily take it.

 

God does not approve of all businesses.  He certainly would not bless anything that exploits or deceives people.

 

You may say, “Well, this is the only job I could get.”  But compromising your faith is never the way to support your family.  A clear conscience and vibrant Christian life is far more important than the money you could earn from unethical pursuits.  Furthermore, if God does not want you doing a certain job, He will give you a better place to work.

 

Once you find appropriate employment, be sure to treat other people the way God does with love and respect, whatever their position is.  Years ago, when I was attending Rhema Bible Training Center, I worked at local hospital in the Operating Room as a Surgical Technician assisting doctors as they operated.   In those days, it was very difficult because I and one other person were the only Christians.  She worked cleaning the rooms after each surgery.  The people who had this job were treated with little respect by the medical professionals.  However, we became good friends and soon began to talk about the Bible and pray for our co-workers.  Some months later, one of my supervisors’ who was notoriously rude to anyone who was not her “equal,” asked, “What I was doing associating with housekeeping?”  The question startled me as I was not aware that anyone was watching what we did on our lunch break.  I was able to share with her that in Christ there are no prejudices and that in Him we are all equal.  When I resigned my position, to go into full-time missionary work, there were two other Christians.  Today, in the Operating Room nearly every one is a Christian, including the doctors.  Our witness, actions, and prayers, go far beyond what we can imagine.  

 

The Bible tells us to work as unto the Lord.  We can not do that unless we are at a job that pleases Him and aligns with His ways.  Once we find ourselves serving Him in our job, we must never forget to treat others with love and respect, regardless of our position or theirs.

 

Prayer—Father I ask You to help me refocus my viewpoint on for whom I work.  I repent for forgetting that I work for You, and focusing my attention on my job to earn money to support myself and my family.  Lord, I ask You to help me keep my focus on You rather than self, in Jesus Name. Amen.

REALIGN WITH THE NEW SEASON

“But now they desire a better, that is a heavenly country…”—Hebrews 11:16

 

 

The body of Christ is in the season of moving forward.  To move forward, you cannot be constantly thinking of the past or be unprepared.  Moreover, you must want to (desire) to go forward.  You must realign with the new season.  Jesus told a parable about ten virgins who where waiting for their bridegroom.  Five of the ten virgins were prepared with extra oil for their lamps, and when the bridegroom came the ones prepared were taken in to the wedding.  However, the five who were not prepared were not allowed into the wedding (Matthew 25:1-13). 

 

The old methods of waiting until the last minute to prepare will not be of any value in this new season.   An alignment of your desire with God’s desire must occur so that you will be prepared to move forward.  Jesus told His disciples that He was going to prepare a place for them, in His Father’s house (John 14:2).  God is preparing for the Church’s coming; consequently, when we do not prepare, are we not behaving like the five foolish virgins who were not prepared for their Bridegroom’s coming?   

 

Those who continually refill their spirit’s with the Word of God and with His Spirit will be the ones who like David can say, “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the statues of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.  More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.  Moreover by them your servant is warned, and keeping them there is great reward” (Psalm 19:7-11).

 

Prayer—Father I choose to continually be filled with Your Spirit and with Your Word so that I can be ready for Your coming.  I choose to realign with your Spirit and not to focus on my past but what you are doing in this new season,  in Jesus Name. Amen.

 

CHOOSE TO FOCUS ON YOUR TODAY

“Do not consider the things of old, nor consider the thing of old, behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth: shall you not know it?  I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”—Isaiah 43:18-19

The Book of Ruth is a portrayal of a woman’s love, devotion and redemption that occurred during a time of extreme difficulty in the land.  Because of a famine, Elimelech, his wife, Namoi, and his two sons migrated from their homeland to the country of Moab.  While in the land, his sons married pagan women, Ruth and Orpah.  During their stay in the land of the Moabites, all of the men died.  When Naomi decided to return to her homeland, she told her daughters-in-law to return to their families.  Although both Orpah and Ruth loved their mother-in-law very much, only Ruth decided to remain with her.  Upon Naomi’s return to Bethlehem, the whole city was very excited to see her.  Because of the death of her husband and two sons, Naomi complained to the people that she thought that she had been treated unfairly by God.  Through a series of events God did a new thing in Naomi’s life, as well as, Ruth’s.  God gives Ruth a new husband, Boaz, a son, Obed, and a privileged position in the lineage of David and Christ (The Book of Ruth).     

 

Instead of focusing on yesterday’s problems, Ruth chose to focus on her today.  “Do not…” in our reference scripture is a direct command telling us not to remember the things of yesterday.   Do not remember the problems, the failures, the fears, the concerns, the disappointments, or the success.  Focus on today.  Many people that I minister to are held in bondage to the torments of the past, whatever it may be (losses of things, limits, abuses or anything that leaves a deep emotional wound).    Focusing on the former things keep people tied emotionally to their past.  Soul ties to the past can be broken; however, a new focus must be maintained to remain free.

 

Today make a decision to release those thoughts that have plagued you and that have tried to define who you are.  Let your decision release the label(s) that continually harass you and that shut you off from the fullness of joy, faith and excitement about your today.  God says that He is releasing a new thing in your life.  He is making a road just for you.  The GREAT I AM has promised to make a way for you and that rivers will flow in the desert of your life.  Take it now.

 

Prayer—Father I purpose in my heart not to think of my past failures, mistakes or even success, but today I choose to receive the new thing you are doing in my life.  Thank you for making the desert places in my life, to be flooded with your river, in Jesus Name. Amen.

LOVE IDENTIFIES THE BELIEVER AS A FOLLOWER OF CHRIST

“By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”—John 13:35

 

I received a testimony from a woman who thanked me for praying with her concerning the salvation of her husband. She contacted me several times over the years; we prayed that her husband would come to the saving knowledge of Christ. He would accompany her to church from time-to-time, pastors would stop and present the gospel to him; however, nothing seemed to make a difference in her husband’s attitude. Finally in exasperation, she told the Lord that she was just going to stop nagging him about going to church and living right. She would continue to pray for him, for she knew that it was His will for everyone to be saved, but she had said and threatened him with everything she knew. She said that it felt like a big weight fell off her back when she decided to quit nagging him. She began to be a nicer person and do extra things for him that demonstrated how she really felt about him. After a few weeks, her husband began to notice and asked her why she was treating him so nice. She replied, “Because I love you.” Not long after that conversation with her husband, he went with her to church and received Christ’s salvation.

 

When we talked she was excited about her husband’s conversion, and asked me, after all these years, what I thought made such a huge change in his attitude. I replied to her that the Scripture tells us that love covers a multitude of sins, and that some people are won by the conduct in which we live our lives (I Peter 4:8; 3:1).

 

Jesus said that the one characteristic that would cause the world to identify us as His followers was our love for one another. According to Jesus, the unity of believers through a genuine God-kind of love is the greatest tool of evangelism for the church. Although the early church did not have the massive organizational structures that we see in the world today, nor the huge financial resources spend in campaigns for outreaches, they had evangelized the known world in less than thirty years. In fact the pagans of Thessalonica said of Paul and his companions, “these that have turned the world upside down have come here too” (Acts 17:6).

 

Jesus gave what is called “the Great Commission” to the church in Matthew 28:19-20. “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” The fulfillment of the Great Commission will take place as we walk in love towards one another. We are not to seek what is best for ourselves; but, in honor, we are to prefer our brothers and sisters and seek what is best for them. Let love speak volumes through your life.

 

Prayer—Father I ask you to show me how I can express my love for my brothers and sisters, in Jesus Name. Amen

HOSPITALITY A KINGDOM VIEWPOINT

“…A certain man gave a great supper and invited many. And sent his servant at supper time to say to those who were invited, ‘Come for all things are now ready.’”—Luke 14:17

 

Our home has always seemed to hum with the activity of people.  We have always welcomed family, friends, and strangers into our home.  During our children’s teenage years, it seemed like our home was the central point of a gathering place for all their friends, and those who needed housing assistance when they were in a family crisis situation.  Recently, I heard a person make comment about their family coming for a visit, and that is when I realized that not everyone had the same view as I did on being hospitable.  The individual was upset because the visiting family members were interrupting their family’s schedule, and would require extra effort on their part.  Perhaps if this person had a clearer understanding about the practice of Christian hospitality she would have thought differently.

 

Dr. Christine Pohl, the author of Making Room, said that, “A lot of us see our homes as retreats from the world instead of outposts for the kingdom.  And so we are leery of whom we welcome and how much time it will take.”  She went on to say that some societies have become so task-oriented that their view of opportunities for hospitality seems as interruptions.  If our whole focus is on getting things done, then opening our homes to others will always be inconvenient. 

 

Perhaps the most inconvenient, if not uncomfortable, aspect to the biblical tradition of hospitality is its emphasis on welcoming the stranger into the home.  Jesus said when you welcome the least of these you have welcomed Me (Matthew 25:45).  The early Christians took these words so seriously that it was common practice to set aside a special room in their homes.  This room was called “Christ room,” or “prophet’s chamber,” so that as strangers had a need the believers would not miss an opportunity to welcome “Jesus.”   

 

A passage in Luke’s gospel teaches an important lesson about the best approach for taking in a stranger—we should not welcome others for personal gain.  On the Sabbath, Jesus dined in the home of a ruling Pharisee.  Noticing the dignified guests who were seated around the table, Jesus challenged the host not to invite friends, rich neighbors, or relatives, who could return the favor in one form or another: “But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, and the blind. And you will be blessed because they cannot repay you; for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just” (Luke 14:13-14).   

 

We as Christians are called to extend to strangers and those who are usually left-out the same kind of welcome that we extend to family and friends.  It is very difficult to show hospitality to strangers if we are not showing it to the people we know and love. 

 

Begin to ask yourself how you could expand your table, with questions such as: Who are the people in my world that need welcomed?  It is the person down the street whose family lives on the other side of the country?  Is it my child’s friends, an international student, a disabled church member, or a widower?  View your home not as a private haven but as a tool for the kingdom of God.  “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it” (Hebrews 13:2).

 

Prayer—Father forgive me for the times that it has seemed inconvenient to invite people into my home.  I purpose in my heart to look for ways to expand my table, and for my home to be used as a tool for Your kingdom, in Jesus Name. Amen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

HONOR GRATITUDE

“Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.”—Romans 13:7

 

It is important for us to compliment, praise, and thank others.  However, equally important is learning how to graciously accept compliments, praise and thanks from others. All too often, we tend to brush aside the kind words of others, either because we are embarrassed, do not feel worthy, or simply do not know how to handle it.  One of the worst ways to handle compliments is to brush it aside with a casual “it’s nothing” or “oh, I don’t really deserve it.”   For example, I might compliment someone by saying, “That’s a lovely linen suit you are wearing today.”  Some possible response might be:

            “This old thing”

            “This is not linen; it is rayon.”

            “I picked it up at a resale shop.”

            “It is a reject from my sister.”

 

Any of these comments show I have no taste and remind me never to say a nice word to you again.  Those words belittle the belief and esteem of the person extending the compliment.

 

We mean to be humble, but we insult the intelligence of the givers when we refuse their compliments.  How much happier we can make others when we express gratitude for their comments.  We should always honor the opinions of others, and when we received compliments, respond in a way that shows we appreciate the kindness and thoughts that went into it.  The easiest way to respond to a compliment is with a simple thank you and a smile.  If the situation requires it, a few additional words may be added.  When you are receiving a compliment, it's important in American culture to look the other person in the eye and give a sincere, “thank you.” Whether you’re giving or receiving compliments, you show respect by being real to the other person.

 

Here are a few sample responses to compliments or praise.

Thank you, I’m glad you enjoyed it.
Thank you, I had a lot of help from others in reaching this milestone.
Thank you; I’m honored by your words.
Thank you, your words mean a lot to me.
Thank you, that’s very kind.

 

Try out a few of these responses until you find one that you can make your own. Then practice it until it is second nature.

 

Examine your own responses to compliments.  Do compliments make you uncomfortable?  Are your responses continually negative? 

 

Accept each compliment as you would a present.  Make the choice to respond in gratitude.  Begin by allowing the Heavenly Father to fill your heart with gratitude—for out of your heart flow the issues of life.

 

Prayer—Father I humble myself before You today and put aside every negative attitude that I have held concerning accepting true honor and praise, and I ask You to forgive me for the times that I have not had a right attitude.  Lord, please help me to learn to be comfortable giving and receiving honor and praise out of right motives, in Jesus Name.  Amen.